Mariska Hargitay appeared on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast and revealed that she auditioned and screen tested for Friends several years before landing the role of Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Both shows are staples on NBC.
“I did a lot of comedy auditions,” Hargitay told Poehler (via The Daily Beast). “I did ‘Seinfeld,’ I did ‘Single Guy,’ I tested out ‘Friends’ a lot. I thought of you Monica. I always knew I would end up on a sitcom or comedy.”
Even when more dramatic roles came along, Hargitay said: “I wanted to do drama, but I felt like it had to be funny, and that’s my talent…[I used to tell people]’I’m going to be a comedian because I’m funny and cute.'”
Hargitay’s revelations may come as a surprise to some. The actor played Olivia Benson on SVU for more than 25 years, making her the longest-running character in primetime live-action television history. It wasn’t until Hargitay consulted a psychic that he faced the possibility that the comedy might not work.
“I’m in L.A. (I’m) a struggling actor (I’m wondering) what am I going to do?” Hargitay said. “I used to come to New York three times a year to see plays, and I met this psychic. Everybody said to me, ‘Oh my god, Mariska, you have to meet this psychic. He’s amazing.'” … I drove up to this guy somewhere on Long Island, and as I got there, he started saying all these amazing things to me. ”
“I was really listening to him and he said to me…’Do you see that face that you’re making? Do you see that face?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, “You’ll become famous for that face.” You’re going to move to New York and be famous for your face,”’ Hargitay continued, noting that at the time he still wanted to land a role on a network comedy. “I said, ‘Oh, no.’ I live in L.A. and I’m going to be a comedian. Six months later, I swear to God…I got ‘SVU.'”
You can watch Hargitay’s full interview on the Good Hang podcast in the video below.
