Mariska Hargitay, best known for her role as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, revealed she tested several times for a part on the sitcom Friends early in her career. She shared these details during an appearance on Amy Poehler's podcast Good Hang. A psychic consultation in New York later influenced her shift toward dramatic roles.
Mariska Hargitay has portrayed Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999, a role that defines much of her career. Prior to that, she appeared as Cynthia Hooper in the medical drama ER. However, Hargitay's early ambitions leaned toward comedy, as evidenced by her guest spots in sitcoms.
She played the recurring character Kate Conklin on NBC's The Single Guy, starring Jonathan Silverman, and appeared on Seinfeld as Melissa, an actress auditioning to portray Elaine in Jerry Seinfeld's fictional show-within-a-show. During her podcast appearance on Good Hang, Hargitay discussed her extensive efforts to break into comedy. "I did 'Seinfeld' and I did 'Single Guy,' and I tested for 'Friends' so many times ... I think [for] Monica," she said. "I always thought I would end up being on a sitcom or doing comedy."
The role of Monica Geller on Friends ultimately went to Courteney Cox. Hargitay's path diverged from comedy following a visit to a psychic in New York. As she recounted, the psychic told her, "You're going to be famous for that face. You're moving to New York and you're gonna be famous for that face," while she stared intently at him. Hargitay replied, "Uh, no. I live in L.A. and I'm going to be a comedian." Remarkably, six months later, she landed the role on SVU.
On the show, Hargitay's Benson partnered with Christopher Meloni's Elliot Stabler, forming a core dynamic that propelled the series. Her portrayal of the tough yet compassionate detective has continued, solidifying her place in procedural drama.