Mariska Hargitay Reveals She Once Auditioned For ‘Friends’
It is almost impossible to picture Friends without Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, but Mariska Hargitay, actress, producer, director, and daughter of the late Jayne Mansfield, recently shared that she once auditioned for the role. During a conversation on the podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Hargitay revealed that in the early days of her career, she tested for Friends multiple times and even read for Monica.
“I think it’s Monica,” she said when asked which part she auditioned for. Although it was so long ago that some of the details were hazy, she remembered going in for the show more than once. At that point in her career, Hargitay fully expected comedy to be her future. She had already landed roles on sitcoms like Seinfeld and The Single Guy, and she believed a half-hour comedy was where she would find her long-term success.
Warner Bros./Everett Collection
However, instead of becoming part of one of television’s most iconic sitcoms, Hargitay’s career took a turn into drama. After appearing on ER as Cynthia Hooper, she was cast as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU. This role defined her career and became one of the longest-running character arcs in television history, still going strong today.
During her chat with Poehler, Hargitay also reflected on turning 60, how comedy has always been a love language in her family, and why humor helped her build a lasting bond with costar Christopher Meloni, who popped in for a surprise Zoom cameo during the interview. She talked about her early training as a rape crisis counselor to prepare for SVU, her advocacy through the Joyful Heart Foundation and even shared funny stories about being a die-hard Hamilton fan and cheering on Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Listen to the entire episode here:
Remind 
February 2021
1990s Rom-Coms
Pop some popcorn and cozy up to feel-good movies and TV shows from a generation ago.
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