‘I’ve heard so much’: Before she became the star of the New York special unit, Mariska Hargitay (Benson) could play one of the heroines of the most famous comedy series of the 90s.

Missed meeting

Having become a staple of American television thanks to the New York special and its impressive run (27 seasons!), Mariska Hargitay at least found herself playing in a lighter register.

Indeed, the actor confided The Good Hang PodcastAmy Poehler, the Parks and Recreation star who tried her hand at comedy before finding success on the Dick Wolf series, hosted. He auditioned for many sitcoms, including Seinfeld and The Bachelor, for which he landed small roles.

But he also applied to become one of the main characters of Friends! He says: “I had so many auditions for friends. I think it was for the role of Monica. I always thought I’d be on a sitcom or a comedy.”

Mariska Hargitay was so confident in her comedic potential that she avoided the more dramatic roles that came her way: “I said to myself: I want to be an actor but it has to be funny because that’s where I thought I had the talent… : “I’m going to be a comedian because I’m funny and pretty.”“

A decisive meeting with a medium

Finally, after meeting him, which is unusual to say the least, he changes his mind. While she struggled to launch her career in Los Angeles, she headed to New York. “What did I do to go to the theater three times a year”He specifies. Encouraged by those around him, as soon as he arrived in the Big Apple, he decided to meet the medium: “Everyone told me: “Oh my god, Mariska, you have to see her, she’s amazing.” … I went to meet him somewhere on Long Island, and he started telling me incredible things.”

He recalls their discussion: “He told me… “See the face you’re making there? See that face?’ I answered: “Yes.” He continued: You will become famous for this face. You’re going to move to New York and become famous for this face.’ I answered him:Uh, no. I live in Los Angeles and I’m going to be a comedy actor.’ “Six months later, I swear to God…I got off the NYPD.”

Whether one believes in spiritualism or not, it is clear that the sequence of events has confirmed this prophecy. Thanks to Olivia Benson, Mariska Hargitay plays the longest-running character in prime-time television series history. Season 27 of New York’s Special Victims Unit began airing across the Atlantic in September.