TV - Movies
How Christopher
Meloni Really
Felt Returning To
Law & Order: SVU
By CHARLES SWITZER
For its first 12 seasons, "Law & Order: SVU" was led by Detectives Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), with Hargitay easily carrying lead duties once Meloni suddenly left the show in 2011. Meloni reprised his role as Stabler in 2021, but how did the actor really feel at that time about returning to the show that started it all?
After leaving "Law & Order: SVU," Meloni branched out into other acting projects. He starred in "True Blood" as the ancient vampire Roman, and in multiple independent films. In a 2021 interview, the actor was asked about the pressure of playing Elliot again and replied, "It was nerve-wracking as hell leading up to it.”
Meloni continued, “[it] was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do as an actor because I think so much energy was needed to block out anticipation or expectation” However, falling right back into the acting rhythm and chemistry with Hargitay came naturally, as he explained, "I was honestly shocked that first scene [...] it's just like 'Oh, oh yeah, you got me, I got you, we got this.'"