Law & Order is one of the longest running television franchises in American TV history.
In fact the show has been on air so long one could understand if someone confused a cast member with a real-life detective.
And now this Law & Order star turned into a real-life detective after the show’s set was forced to shut down to solve one real case.
Law & Order is part of the American landscape
Law & Order debuted for NBC all the way back in 1990, and ran for 20 seasons before going off the air in 2011.
The show was picked up again after an 11-year absence, and is currently running its 23rd season and has been renewed for a 24th.
Meanwhile, much like its rival, CSI, the franchise has had numerous spin-off series.
Those spin-offs include: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Law & Order: LA, Law & Order: True Crim, Law & Order: Organized Crime, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent Toronto.
And recently, while one of those spin-offs was filming, one actress sprang into action just as her character would.
A very special victim for the SVU cast and crew
People is reporting that a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU) actress turned into a real-life detective while filming an episode of her hit show.
According to the report from People, a little girl wandered onto the series’ set in New York City in the middle of filming as she had been separated from her mother and believed that the actress was a real-life police officer who could help her.
A witness told People the girl had noticed the actors flashing badges.
She approached Mariska Hargitay, who has been playing one of the lead roles, detective Olivia Benson since the show launched back in 1999.
The young girl told Hargitay she was lost.
Hargitay, who is a mother of three, could understand how frightening a separation like this could be for both the child and the parent, so she immediately called a halt to filming.
She and other SVU cast and crew members then spent the next 20 minutes trying to locate the mother.
The mom was found and Hargitay reunited the mother and daughter.
Mariska Hargitay morphs into Oliva Benson
Witnesses told People that Hargitay was then seen comforting both mom and daughter during the reunion.
Coincidentally, back in January, Hargitay gave People an interview in which she discussed her SVU character.
“We’ve been on a parallel journey,” Hargitay said. “There’s a thing: WWOBD, ‘What would Olivia Benson do?’ The fans would always talk about it, and one day it hit me. I also have those moments where I’ve sort of slipped into her. If there’s a crisis, I just take over and lead like that. Being strong and fearless.
When the moment came when Hargitay was faced with a real-life crisis, she did exactly that – slipped into Olivia Benson mode, took the lead and was strong and fearless.
US Political Daily will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
