- Mariska Hargitay suffered a collapsed lung after a 2008 stunt on Law & Order: SVU.
- The injury was initially understated and later required surgery and a rare follow-up complication.
- The experience changed Hargitay’s approach: she now relies more on professional stunt performers.
Mariska Hargitay details the accident that changed her approach
Mariska Hargitay, who has portrayed Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for decades, recently revisited a serious on-set injury that reshaped how she handles physical scenes. During a 2008 chase sequence, Hargitay performed a stunt herself, landed awkwardly on a second take and later discovered she had a collapsed lung.
At the time, she thought she had only pulled a muscle or knocked the wind out of herself. She continued working while the pain persisted, expecting it to improve. Months later she needed surgery, and after briefly returning to set in early 2009, she experienced another collapsed lung — a rare complication that occurs in about one in 1,000 cases.
How the injury changed her stunt policy
The scare prompted a clear shift in how Mariska Hargitay approaches action scenes. Once committed to doing many of her own stunts, she now leans on trained stunt professionals for the show’s most dangerous sequences. Parenthood also influenced the change: Hargitay has said protecting her long-term health and being there for her family became priorities.
“I’d always insisted on doing the stunts my own way,” she explained in earlier interviews. “I don’t feel so strongly about that anymore.” The decision underscores a broader industry practice that balances realism with safety by employing specialists for risky shots.
Recovery, perspective, and gratitude
Hargitay has reflected on the experience with gratitude. The injury and subsequent recovery gave her a renewed appreciation for life and career longevity. She told interviewers that being exposed to sudden physical vulnerability at a relatively young age taught her to value the opportunities she has and to reassess risk.
The incident highlights the hidden hazards performers face on long-running series that include physical storytelling. It also illustrates why many actors choose to preserve their health by delegating stunts to professionals while focusing on performance and character work.
When SVU returns
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit returns Thursday, January 8 at 9/8c on NBC and will be available to stream the following day on Peacock. Fans can expect the show to continue balancing tense drama with safer on-set practices after Hargitay’s experience.
Takeaway
Mariska Hargitay’s injury is a reminder that even seasoned actors can face serious on-set accidents. Her shift toward using stunt professionals reflects a commitment to safety and longevity in a physically demanding career.
Image Referance: https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/2025/12/28/mariska-hargitay-recalls-serious-law-order-svu-injury/
