Mariska Hargitay has opened up about her thoughts on retiring from Law & Order: SVU, as the series enters its 26th season amidst swirling rumors about the possible retirement of her character, Detective Olivia Benson.

Mariska Hargitay has been playing the role of Olivia Benson on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999, and the character has bled into her real life over the years. "It's deeply in me," Hargitay said about her character during a 2017 interview with E!

Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni met on the set of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 1999 — and decades later their bond is still going strong. For years, fans wanted their characters, Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler,

Special Victims Unit' joint audition, where she first met costar and friend Christopher Meloni, in a new interview.

SVU stars Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni‘s friendship has spanned over more than two decades. Most recently, Hargitay recalled their sweet moments of auditioning together for the iconic crime drama show.

SVU’s 26-season history, one element that has remained a fan-favorite is the relationship between Olivia Benson and Chris Stabler. Although Stabler isn't a regular on the show anymore, viewers remain invested in the dynamic between the two law enforcement officials.

Celebrating more than 26 seasons and counting, few will deny that Dick Wolf captured lightning in a bottle with the creation of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and in a January TODAY interview, SVU legend Mariska Hargitay looked back on the "magical" final audition with Christopher Meloni that changed her life forever.