‘Law & Order SVU’: Mariska Hargitay Faced Doubt That She Could Lead the Show on Her Own

Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson became front and center in ‘Law & Order SVU’ after Chris Meloni’s departure.

Law & Order SVU lost Chris Meloni unexpectedly after his decision to leave the show. The rest of the series would rest on Mariska Hargitay, but some were skeptical she could handle the new position.

This ‘Law & Order’ showrunner felt Mariska Hargitay was underestimated

Mariska Hargitay | Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

After Meloni left, Hargitay was tasked to lead the show without her partner. She’d continue working alongside her co-star Ice-T. But at the same time, she’d be welcoming new cast members to the show who might help fill Meloni’s noticeable absence. But even after so many years on the show, there was skepticism regarding Hargitay anchoring SVU on her own. Showrunner Warren Leight, however, knew how good Hargitay was when he came on board.

“When I came in there, I don’t believe people understood how good she was,” Leight once told NY Daily News. “And everyone thought it as about the chemistry she had with Elliot [Christopher Meloni] and people did not understand she could carry the show on her own.”

But it seemed with SVU‘s continued success, Hargitay might’ve proven she was more than capable for the job.

Throughout the series, Hargitay felt that her Olivia Benson began to mean more to the entertainment industry than some realized. She believed there weren’t many female characters like Olivia on TV before SVU.

“Olivia opened the door,” Hargitay said. “At the time, I don’t remember any other characters like that. I am very excited and happy when I see other characters like this. I say the more the merrier, baby. I don’t want it to be an anomaly. Let there be all strong, amazing women and I am so happy to know there is an appetite now.”