Mariska Hargitay has spent decades bringing strength and resilience to Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but behind the scenes, the longtime star has faced very real physical challenges. As previously reported by TVLine, Mariska Hargitay recalls being no stranger to injuries, including a significant on set accident that changed how she approaches stunt work on the long running NBC drama.
Mariska Hargitay recalls a stunt gone wrong that led to a collapsed lung
One of the most serious incidents occurred during a stunt sequence in 2008, when Mariska Hargitay suffered a collapsed lung after a chase scene went wrong. In an interview with Redbook, the actor recalled that she had always preferred to perform her own stunts at the time.
“I was doing a stunt chasing a bad guy. I’d always insisted on doing the stunts my own way, although I don’t feel so strongly about that anymore,” Hargitay explained. “I jumped and landed on pads, but on the second take, something happened. I just landed wrong.”
The injury was not immediately obvious
At first, the injury did not seem severe. Mariska Hargitay said she initially believed she had simply knocked the wind out of herself or pulled a muscle. Determined to push through, she continued working while expecting the pain to fade.
“I got up and felt that something inside was not quite right,” she said. “I was angry with myself. Later, I thought maybe I’d pulled a muscle, but I didn’t focus on the injury and kept expecting it to get better.”
Recovery brought an unexpected setback
Months later, Mariska Hargitay underwent surgery and returned to work in early 2009, only to suffer another collapsed lung shortly afterward. According to the actor, the complication was extremely rare, occurring in roughly one out of every 1,000 cases. Looking back, Mariska Hargitay recalls that the experience ultimately prompted a major shift in how she approached physical scenes on the series.
The injury changed how Mariska Hargitay approaches stunt work
As TVLine notes, the injury became a turning point. Mariska Hargitay has since relied on professional stunt performers for the show’s more demanding action sequences, especially after becoming a parent. She has openly acknowledged that the experience reshaped her perspective on risk, health, and longevity.
Finding gratitude after the experience
Despite the ordeal, Mariska Hargitay has said she found meaning in the hardship. Speaking again with Redbook, she reflected on the long term impact with gratitude, noting that the experience deepened her appreciation for life and the opportunities she has been given.
“I think you learn to feel grateful when you are exposed at such a young age to the fact that bad things can happen,” she said. “I look at all the things life has allowed me to do and I feel like the luckiest person in the world.”
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit returns Thursday, January 8 at 9/8c on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock.