Mariska Hargitay Once Named the ‘ER’ Co-Star Who Helped Her During Their Uncomfortable Scene
Law & Order SVU star Mariska Hargitay’s persistence paid off when she landed her career-transforming part in ER. As grateful as Hargitay was for receiving the role, she found one scene in the medical drama particularly difficult. Fortunately, a reliable co-star was by Hargitay’s side to help her through the scene.
Mariska Hargitay had to do something she’d never done before in this ‘ER’ scene
Aside from playing Olivia Benson on SVU, Hargitay portrayed another iconic TV character in ER. She played desk clerk Cynthia Hooper for 13 episodes during the show’s fourth season. But her primary role was serving as a love interest for Anthony Edwards’ Mark Greene. Hargitay’s confidence was just as responsible for securing her the part as her acting skills. On Inside the Actor’s Studio, Hargitay revisited her ER audition. She revealed it was one of the rare times she was certain she delivered a great rehearsal.
“And I went in this interview and had so much fun on the audition, and I was super prepared, not going to lie,” she said. “But you know, it’s that thing of you do your work, and then you hit the flow. And then you’re in the flow and it’s a wave, and all you’re doing is riding it. So, I left the audition, and I was high as a kite. I was so happy because you know that’s rare when we really leave an audition going, ‘I killed it.’ Now we would say, ‘#Killedit.’”
She asserted, however, that ER initially turned her down despite her strong performance. The casting director felt Hargitay was too strong of a personality to play the weaker Cynthia Hooper. However, after confronting the casting director, she convinced him to give her the role.
Hargitay felt comfortable doing difficult episodes on SVU. Before then, however, a much less experienced Hargitay had trouble with a particularly uncomfortable scene with her love interest Anthony Edwards. She had to act drunk on tequila during the scene, which she admittedly felt uncomfortable with at first. Fortunately, Edwards put her at ease.
“That was very much outside my comfort zone,” Hargitay said in a 2016 interview with ET. “I was so nervous and hadn’t done something like that I remember going, ‘I am so grateful for this feeling of safety. I want to provide it [to someone else] if I am ever lucky enough to be in his position.'”
How Mariska Hargitay felt reuniting with her old ‘ER’ boyfriend
Hargitay got the opportunity to repay Edwards for his support when he appeared on her turf. Edwards guest-starred in season 18 of SVU. He once again found himself playing an old partner of Hargitay’s. But the circumstances and dynamic between the two were much different than in ER. For Hargitay, their on-screen reunion was a long time coming and was another example of her persistence paying off.
“To work together again is an honor and a joy,” she said. “I’ve actually wanted Tony to come on the show for probably 12 years.”
Edwards was also delighted to work alongside his old ER co-worker again after his exit from the medical drama.
“It all happens for a reason, and this is the right time to be here,” he said. “I think it’s just the timing — and the timing is perfect.”
Edwards gave glimpses into their new relationship in SVU, which inadvertently explained how it differed from their ER history.
“What’s intriguing to me is that you’ve got people that have to help each other. But there are rules and the line of that keeps moving,” he added. “We had a certain relationship then, and now here we are in a situation in which I’m in great need and I’m drawing on this old friendship.”
“It’s not clear or black and white,” he added. “For actors, that’s fun because we get to try and find out what it is.”
Edwards was eager to return to SVU after his guest role. So far, however, he has yet to reunite with Hargitay in the long-running series.
