Mariska Hargitay Thought She ‘Should’ Kiss Christopher Meloni in That Intense SVU Scene: ‘Our Chemistry is Undeniable’
Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni know what the fans want from their characters — and they want it, too.
A romance has long been teased between Captain Olivia Benson (Hargitay) and Detective Elliot Stabler (Meloni), and, following the death of Stabler’s wife upon his return to Law & Order: SVU in season 22, things have seemingly escalated between the partners. However, fans are still waiting to see them share a long-awaited kiss.
A promo for a season 24 episode airing last year brought Benson and Stabler as close as they’ve come so far to locking lips, teasing fans with an emotional moment. But even that didn’t close the deal for the characters, despite Hargitay, 60, and Meloni, 63, thinking it should have.
“To be honest with you, Chris and I thought it should go one way and the powers that be didn’t, so it got changed at the last minute, that near kiss,” she told Variety of the moment, which creator Dick Wolf “didn’t want.”
“Our chemistry is undeniable,” she said of her and Meloni’s characters. “It’s just the way it is.”
Hargitay admitted that she and Meloni “want to hold the tension and do what’s right and truthful for both characters,” who have been partners in the Manhattan Special Victims Unit for over a decade.
Meloni has yet to make an appearance in season 25 thus far. However, Hargitay teased: “I don’t see why that wouldn’t happen or couldn’t happen. I think that we’re sort of irrevocably locked.”
He moved in closer, telling her, “Liv, look at me,” and they touched foreheads as Stabler leaned in to kiss her.
Benson pulled away at the last second, telling her partner, “Elliot, I want to — I want to. But I can’t.”
“Why not?” Stabler asked, prompting Benson to share her concerns about things not working out between them.
“Elliot, I’m not ready for this,” she said, repeating the statement several times: “I’m not ready for this.”
![Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson, Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT](https://people.com/thmb/Fak5wECxKjo2HWUq_QD5srSjTU4=/4000x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/mariska-hargitay-christopher-meloni-law-order-011024-09f5f12db3344d8099d7e7f939c00a09.jpg)
Appearing on the Today show after the episode aired, Hargitay said that she and Meloni “want to make sure and get it right” between their characters.
“The good news is we are so comfortable around each other, it was effortless and fun and we trust each other, it was beautiful that way. We just focused on the work.”
Their dynamic is “intense,” Hargitay told PEOPLE in January. “It’s intimate, and it’s reassuring.”
She also described their chemistry as “easy, effortless and earned” as she reflected on her more than two decades of friendship with the actor. “We met and the rest is history. It’s iconic. [He’s] somebody who’s changed my life so much, somebody I love,” she added.
News
Joy Behar to Leave America with Whoopi Goldberg and Megan Rapinoe,”I Don’t Get Any Respect Either”
As if the nation’s collective shock wasn’t enough with Whoopi Goldberg and Megan Rapinoe announcing their intentions to depart America’s shores, Joy Behar, co-host of The View, has thrown her hat into the ring. “I don’t get any respect either,”…
FACT: NFL Fired Beyoncé After Just 2 Minutes on Stage for Performing the ‘”Aternative National Anthem”
In a world where celebrities often tread lightly around political and social issues, global superstar Beyoncé has never been one to shy away from making a statement. This was evident when she took center stage at a recent NFL event…
Oweпs PROUDLY Aппoᴜпces Project With Tᴜcker Carlsoп For ABC’s Explosive New LATE NIGHT Show
Oweпs PROUDLY Aппoᴜпces Project With Tᴜcker Carlsoп For ABC’s Explosive New LATE NIGHT Show In a groundbreaking move that is sure to shake up the late-night television landscape, Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson have announced their collaboration on a new…
Kid Rock’s ‘Bawitdaba’ prayer has got to be the most American thing I’ve heard all year.
Kid Rock’s ‘Bawitdaba’ prayer has got to be the most American thing I’ve heard all year. Kid Rock’s “The Unwoke and Unafraid Tour” is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated events of the year. Featuring…
Breaking: Jason, Kid Rock, and Oliver Anthony’s ‘You Can’t Cancel America’ Tour Achieves Record-Breaking Ticket Sales
Breaking: Jason, Kid Rock, and Oliver Anthony’s ‘You Can’t Cancel America’ Tour Achieves Record-Breaking Ticket Sales Forget your viral TikTok dances or that new fancy coffee trend everyone’s buzzing about. The real action is at the intersection of music and…
“I’m a better performer and I stick to my opinion that she should be banned from music. She s*cks and her fans are toxic” — Kid Rock on Taylor and Swifties after Swifties dragged him for trolling Taylor Swift……
Iп a coпtroversial tυrп of eveпts, Kid Rock has reigпited his loпg-staпdiпg feυd with Taylor Swift, calliпg for her to be baппed from the mυsic iпdυstry aпd the Grammys. His latest oυtbυrst comes after faciпg backlash from Swift’s devoted faпbase,…
End of content
No more pages to load