I Play a Cop on TV and Now I Am a Cop!

**Xiphos** · 09-17-10, 02:37 PM

"I can go totally into cop mode," says the star of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, remembering the time she rushed to the aid of a pregnant woman who had fainted on a New York City sidewalk. "I yelled, 'Call 911; get her water.' Then I started going through all of the questions with her that could answer what might be wrong with her. It was completely like an episode of the show."

After 11 years portraying Olivia Benson, the tough but compassionate Manhattan sex-crimes detective, the 46-year-old actress has developed sure instincts and quick reflexes. The role has had a deep impact on the most personal aspects of her life, including her marriage to actor Peter Hermann and her approach to parenting their son, August. "It really prepared me for motherhood, because as a cop, you are in charge of any emergency and you need to stay calm, take control, and get the help and the attention you need to fix it. It's the same thing with being a parent."

Print - Mariska Hargitay: Staying Sane When Life Is Moving Fast - Good Housekeeping

Yeah, being a cop is JUST like that. And you know, none of my training can compare to acting on a tv show... In other news I'm scheduling some open heart surgery with Noah Wylie.

**countybear** · 09-17-10, 02:45 PM

REP!

**pgg** · 09-17-10, 02:48 PM

I watched a cooking show now I'm a gourmet chef

**Xiphos** · 09-17-10, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by pgg

I watched a cooking show now I'm a gourmet chef

You better start being the star actor on a cooking show if you expect to be head chef in a 5 star restaurant.

**Pudge** · 09-17-10, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by Xiphos

You better start being the star actor on a cooking show if you expect to be head chef in a 5 star restaurant.

I think Man vs. Food is more pgg's style.

**SPD** · 09-17-10, 05:44 PM

I think actors/actresses really do have to be a little crazy and/or delusional to be able to do their job. And they longer they do it, the worse they get.

I could ruin their self-image in one night with one good call. But they they'd be ruined as actors, and would just sit in a corner and feel stupid all the time. And what fun would that be? I like hot actresses for some fairly simple reasons - and it's not because they have it together upstairs.

Do let's appease their egos and let them do what they do best - go play characters and provide eye candy for us.

**Twan007** · 09-17-10, 09:00 PM

well, I'm sure that she had some very good coaches on the show - after all, she played the part of Det. Benson very well...

but she forgot one very important aspect of our job...

there is not director who yells "CUT, that was horrible, we need to do another take - back to the beginning - PLACES... and... ACTION..."

when we make a take... we get one shot - that's it - there is no "do overs"...

**Captain America** · 09-17-10, 09:10 PM

I play an actor in real life.

**Jenna** · 09-17-10, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Captain America

I play an actor in real life.

Perhaps you are playing an actor playing a cop playing an actor playing a cop playing an actor.....

**MacLean** · 09-17-10, 11:05 PM

I know only a very few actors I would listen to that from, and they have all actually done police work.

**jmur5074** · 09-18-10, 04:27 AM

Ugh that is completely ridiculous.

**Trojan 42** · 09-18-10, 04:42 AM

When I retired after 30years coppering, I did some TV work as a Tactical Advisor and as an extra. I gave up telling them 'it would be done this way' etc. They didn't care what Cops would actually do, they just wanted what looked good.

On one episode of a tv show called Waking the Dead, the wardrobe lady told me I was wearing the wrong kit. I said I didn't think I was and that my kit was the real deal. She produced a big book of photographs, flicked through it to the time we we supposed to be portraying, until she found a picture. ''There'', she said. ''That's what you should look like.'' I looked at her picture and said ''That guy is Kieren, and that person behind him, is me and oh look I'm wearing this kit!''

**IMGreat101** · 09-18-10, 05:09 AM

Originally Posted by pgg

I watched a cooking show now I'm a gourmet chef

Originally Posted by Xiphos

You better start being the star actor on a cooking show if you expect to be head chef in a 5 star restaurant.

Originally Posted by Pudge

I think Man vs. Food is more pgg's style.

I am calling buttercup for backup, you guys are busted!

Originally Posted by Captain America

I play an actor in real life.

Reagan became pres

**IMGreat101** · 09-18-10, 05:56 AM

ok, here is how it will go.

Buttercup is the Chief of Culinary Police. I am on the street, Culinary Cop. The side of our squad cars reads, "To serve and protect your palate."
My first call of the shift is to the Greenbriar Restaurant in Johnston. The scene is horrific, there is cream in the Steak De Burgo sauce! After running a background check on the kitchen staff, I arrest the person claiming to be the Chef. This person has no culinary training or certification required to take the title of Chef. The charges, violation of the De Burgo sauce code and impersonating a Chef.

Justice will be swift, this person will be cooking in prison for many years.

Thinking about a career in Culinary Law Enforcement? Enroll today in the IMG Academy of Culinary Law Enforcement.

Yeah, I could be a LEO.

**Ducky** · 09-18-10, 07:32 AM

She could maybe be a security guard. Maybe.

**2 Blue 4 U** · 09-18-10, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Captain America

I play an actor in real life.

And that is the truth and one of the many hats LEO's wear, acting, mediator, social worker, teacher, car mechanic, EMT, baby sitter, just to name a few.

**213th** · 09-18-10, 07:07 PM

I've always wondered what happens psychologically to someone who spends years nearly every day pretending to be something they are not. Which is what actors on long running tv shows do. As it's been said "you lie so much you believe yourself". I wouldn't be suprised if the lines between real life and the show get real blurry for somepeople.

Anyway, who wants to place bets as to how long before she gets stopped by a real officer and whips out her svu badge