‘Law & Order: SVU’ star halts filming to help child who mistook her for a real cop
(NEXSTAR) -- Mariska Hargitay, famously known for her role as Olivia Benson in the NBC series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," recently channeled her character to help a lost child in New York City who mistook her for an actual cop.
The actress was filming an episode for the show's 25th season at Manhattan's Anne Loftus Playground in Fort Tryon Park when a young girl approached her on April 10, according to NBC.
The child reportedly thought Hargitay was an on-duty police officer because she was wearing a badge as part of her Olivia Benson costume.
Entertainment Tonight spoke with an eyewitness who said the girl was looking for her mother and didn't even notice the camera crew when she asked Hargitay for help.
"Mariska was filming a scene with Ice-T and was interrupted by a little girl walking into the scene. She walked straight to Mariska," the witness told the outlet.
A video circulating on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, shows Hargitay carrying the child while searching for her family.
"A fierce woman that cares for others," an X user wrote. "So Olivia Benson coded."
Hargitay paused filming for about 20 minutes until she was able to reunite the girl with her mom, NBC noted on its website.
In an exclusive interview with People earlier this year, Hargitay spoke on embodying Olivia Benson in her own life.
"There’s a thing WWOBD, what would Olivia Benson do? The fans would always talk about it, and one day it hit me. I also have those moments where I’ve sort of slipped into her. If there’s a crisis, I just take over and lead like that. Being strong and fearless," she told the publication.
Back in January, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" became the longest-running drama series in American TV history when its 25th season premiered. Hargitay also made history: her Olivia Benson character is the longest-running in a prime time drama series, People reported.