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Law & Order SVU star Mariska Hargitay has been stated to be perhaps the only person other than Dick Wolf who could truly end the show. But although SVU is still running perhaps stronger than ever, Hargitay will have to step out of her role sooner or later. However, she admitted that doing so may be challenging at first.

Mariska Hargitay found it hard to imagine life without ‘Law & Order SVU’

Hargitay has been a part of SVU for almost half of her life. She first started playing Olivia Benson when she was 35-years-old. Now, at 61, both she and the character have grown over the course of the series. Additionally, SVU has affected several areas of the actor’s life.

She met her husband, Peter Hermann, on the set of the show. SVU also inspired the veteran star to launch her Joyful Heart Foundation, which was created to help real-life victims of crime. Because of SVU’s impact on her life, Hargitay seemed to feel chosen for the role long before she ever officially had it.

“I think I was meant to do this,” Hargitay once said in an interview with People. “I was the one who was supposed to play Olivia Benson.”

But perhaps what impressed Hargitay the most about SVU was the show’s ability to continue generating new, fresh stories for the show and its characters. With that kind of creativity, the actor saw little incentive to leave.

“Every day I marvel at the turn of events that brought me here,’” she added. “That I was the one to get this role that led me to this life, to this mission. And every day I say thank you.”

However, if there’s anything that might one day lure Hargitay away from SVU, it’s her family. She’s been raising three children with Hermann. With her busy schedule, balancing her professional and personal life can be a bit difficult.

“I’m on a TV show, and I have a foundation and three children and a husband, and they all need, as anything that you value does, a lot of focus and energy. Time is my most precious commodity now. I’ve had to think smarter to get more done,” she said.

Although it will take some considerable time to arrive, the day will eventually come when she, the show, or both will air their last episode. However, she already knows that when she’s done with SVU, she’ll have little regrets.

 “When I finish SVU, as much as it will be an enormous adjustment, I will also be able to look back and say, ‘I gave it my all and maybe even a little more,’ ” she said. “And I’m excited about the next chapter.”

Mariska Hargitay once shared the lesson she learned from doing ‘Law & Order SVU’

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Hargitay asserted that she learned a lot from playing Olivia Benson. But perhaps one of the most important lessons she learned about her long tenure in the series is to live in the moment.

“It’s a lesson in being present and to not be thinking ahead,” Hargitay once told ET (via WHAS11).

This philosophy was why Hargitay never focused too much on her potential retirement in the future.

“If you asked me 20 years ago, I never thought I’d be here 20 years later, and I am fulfilled and I love my co-stars and it’s an incredible collaboration with the producers and the writers, so I’m really enjoying it,” she said.

Incidentally, her approach made sure that she never took being on SVU for granted.

 “With moments like this, you’re sort of forced to really take it in because I feel like I’ve been in this marathon for 20 years. You know, just doing the work every day and our days are long so it’s been a long and beautiful [journey] to have moments to celebrate it,” she said.

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