Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T.Photo: Todd Williamson/NBC via Getty
Ice-TandMariska Hargitaymay have a friendship that spans nearly 25 years, but that doesn’t mean the rapper-turned-actor had any idea what he was in for when the two first met on the set ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitin 2000.
“It wasn’t like some holy meeting. She was just another actress to me at that time,” Ice-T, 65, tells PEOPLE with a laugh forthis week’s cover story. “When I met [Mariska], I had done more work than her. So, I was kind of like the boss when I walked on the set. But then I found out how wonderful she is and how gracious she is, and now I can’t think of working with somebody else.”
Ice-T joinedSVUas Detective Fin Tutuola in the show’s second season, and his performance has since earned him the distinction of being the longest-running male actor on television. The irony is that he originally only signed on to do the series for a few episodes.
Fast forward two decades, says Ice-T, and “SVUwas a four-episode stint that ended up 25 years."
Ice-T and Mariska Hargitay on set for season 25.Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler, Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson, Dann Florek as Captain Don Cragen in 1999.Jessica Burstein/NBCU Photo Bank
Jessica Burstein/NBCU Photo Bank
“She’s so great. What started with her andChris [Meloni]andDann Florek, it was a great place. But when I walked in there? I’m Ice-T, movie star, like, ‘What’s happening?’ No, I didn’t say that to them. That was just my feeling,” he says, chuckling. “And 25 years — it’s very rare that you can work daily with somebody and not get on each other’s nerves. But Mariska’s just a sweetheart. And I’m very, very lucky to have her as a castmate.”
He continues of Hargitay, who turns 60 on Jan. 23: “She’s a wonderful person. Forget Olivia Benson. [But] I think what happened is when she started to do the show, she morphed into Olivia Benson with Joyful Heart and all that kind of stuff. But that’s truly who she is."
Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson and Ice-T as Fin Tutuola in 2009.Will Hart/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Will Hart/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
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So, while he and Hargitay are often focused and serious where their work is concerned, Ice-T says there’s one thing he really loves about her.
“She’s funny, too,” he says. “We don’t get to show funniness on our show. Our show is very dark. But Mariska? I’m trying to get her onSNL.”
And, if Hargitay hosts, Ice-T knows the perfect accompaniment: “I could be musical guest!"
For more on Mariska Hargitay, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now, or subscribehere.
Law & Order: SVUreturns to NBC for its 25th season on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 9 p.m. ET.
source: people.com
