Mariska Hargitay: 'Law and Order: SVU' Premiere 'Hardest Thing I've Ever Done' [PHOTO]
Mariska Hargitay has opened up about the Law & Order: SVU Season 15 Premiere, The Huffington Post reported Monday.
During May's season finale, Det. Olivia Benson was seen being kidnapped by a violent rapist. Benson's portrayer, Hargitay, said that the detective would have lasting consequences from being held at gunpoint by the rapist and murderer, William Lewis. The season 15 premiere, entitled Surrender Benson, has the lead detective bound and gagged.
"It was the hardest thing I've ever done, without a doubt," Hargitay said. "Hardest thing I've ever done."
Warren Leight, executive producer of the show, co-wrote the show. He felt that the fans had begun to take the jeopardy the characters face for granted. He felt that Hargitay was more than up to the challenge of the harrowing material.
"The show has dealt with stories like this for a long time, but I felt like with Season 15, I've got to do something to jolt the audience ... I felt like this show could not get taken for granted and I need to start the year off with a jolt. And also I thought, for Mariska, let me write the most challenging scenes I could write."
Hargitay said that she was changed as an actress by the plot. The Emmy award winning actress felt she was brining to life experiences many endure.
"[P]eople go through harrowing experiences like this and I want to honor that and I want to honor courage and being brave and the costs to be brave and courageous," she said.
Law & Order: SVU premieres Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.