Mariska Hargitay has been playing the role of Olivia Benson on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999, and the character has bled into her real life over the years. "It's deeply in me," Hargitay said about her character during a 2017 interview with E!

In this week’s Sunday Sitdown, Mariska Hargitay joins Willie Geist for a discussion on the real-world impact of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and her character Olivia Benson that she made her own more than 25 years ago.

SVU stars Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni‘s friendship has spanned over more than two decades. Most recently, Hargitay recalled their sweet moments of auditioning together for the iconic crime drama show.

SVU’s 26-season history, one element that has remained a fan-favorite is the relationship between Olivia Benson and Chris Stabler. Although Stabler isn't a regular on the show anymore, viewers remain invested in the dynamic between the two law enforcement officials.

Celebrating more than 26 seasons and counting, few will deny that Dick Wolf captured lightning in a bottle with the creation of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and in a January TODAY interview, SVU legend Mariska Hargitay looked back on the "magical" final audition with Christopher Meloni that changed her life forever.