Mariska Hargitay On Being 'Devastated' When Chris Meloni Left 'Law & Order: SVU' | PEOPLE

For the first 12 seasons of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni were the face of the popular crime drama as detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler.

So when Meloni abruptly left the show in 2011 after contract negotiations fell apart, Hargitay says she was "devastated."

"I was just so sad, because we started this thing and built it together," she tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story. "And we went through so many milestones and spent so much time together and understood so many things that nobody else could understand."

#LawAndOrderSVU #MariskaHargitay #ChrisMeloni #PEOPLE

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Mariska Hargitay Opens Up On Being ‘Devastated’ When Chris Meloni 'Left Law & Order: SVU' | PEOPLE

[mckayleem]

"...left in the familiarity of what we were."

Damn. Perfect description of grief/abandonment in like a million different scenarios.

[roberthanson]

When Olivia broke down in the interrogation room I broke down right with her. If you didn’t cry than you are not human

[chloe_]

I always wondered how much of that fear we saw behind Olivia’s eyes in season 13 and anger in then when he came back in 22 was real. Of course, they talked in real life, but his leaving was still abrupt. What they had was so easy and good. Then she grew to so much more, and she runs the show now. After so many years playing them, I think the line between the character side and the actors becomes very gray.

[laurenralph]

Mariska Hargitay is such a great role model for women I Full heartedly respect her and what she stands for _ for all women and how much help she has giving to women for all these years

[LorenaRamirez-jlsz]

Mariska is an excellent actress, she was able to carry out the project and more accompanied by a great team 👏👏

[ruadhrose]

So she is basically describing Olivia & Elliott when she’s talking about her & Chris’ relationship...hmmm...🤔. Yes i know they’re married to other people I’m not talking about them having a romance I’m referring to why Olivia & Elliott’s relationship is so amazing. Because they’re so close IRL. If the writers don’t pair them up romantically on screen they’re wasting a golden opportunity.

[beachbliss]

It’s so interesting how they don’t look at each other when the other speaks about this. She doesn’t forgive him for leaving. Him leaving is still so painful for her. He’s intellectualising the grief she felt, which doesn’t pacify her. She wants a heartfelt acknowledgement that he chose something else above their connection. I get you Mariska!

[P-hmgw]

I am 5'8 and when I met with Mariska, I was looking up at her .
Yet her height is listed as only 5'7.idk maybe it was her shoes. Very beautiful woman

[sethbender]

They were so close and I think still are in real life

[bindilove]

They were work spouses. Happens all the time in the workplace.

[billlawrence]

She is a very fine actress. I wonder who else remembers seeing her in an episode of "In the heat of the night" . She was very young then and played a girl on the run with her badass abusive boyfriend. The kind of girl Bensen is always trying to save.

[tanyamelnichuk]

The reruns are great to watch and my two favorite episodes include Carol Burnett and Brad Garrett

[broholmes]

I haven't watched the whole thing yet I will though (if it Does say on there) but is she happy he's back

[rhymeandreasoning]

What when down between Chris and the show? Was it about money, and the show was like, 'See ya. We don't don't need you.' - ??? Why did he leave?

[hazelharding]

Mariska in my opinion is the most beautiful woman on television and I just love SUV

[corrinhafreitas]

Pena que não é traduzido pra nós brasileiros entende o que eles está falando

[magdabuchanan-samuels]

Apr-16-2023: Please, on L&O-SVU does anyone know and can write which Episode is the Continuation to S22-Ep13? Thank you!...

[hephzibah]

Gosh he looks like a younger Bruce Willis

[cfpeqgc]

She should be sad when he left. There was only about three years left of quality writing!

[ceciliapagano]

Nn so cosa dire sorry mi dispiace tank you buone cose a entrambi e buon proseguimento✌🌈👏