As a long-time fan of “Law & Order: SVU”, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia and excitement whenever Kelli Giddish, the talented actress who brought Detective Amanda Rollins to life, returns to the show. It’s like welcoming an old friend back home, complete with the instant chemistry that only comes from years of working together.
[This story contains spoilers from the Oct. 17 episode of Law & Order: SVU, “Divide and Conquer.”]
Kelli Giddish departed from “Law & Order: SVU” in December 2022 during the show’s 24th season on NBC, but she didn’t move too far away.
The actress who portrayed Detective Amanda Rollins for 12 seasons of a crime drama has returned to her role multiple times since then. Even when she’s not physically present on the show, Rollins remains connected to the series as she is married to ADA Sonny Carisi (Peter Scanavino). In this week’s episode, Rollins reappears with the NYPD, now in a sergeant position within the department’s intelligence division. She is working on a case that intertwines with her long-standing partner and friend Captain Olivia Benson’s (Mariska Hargitay) Special Victims Unit.
Giddish expresses to The Hollywood Reporter that it’s similar to saying, ‘Alright, let’s get going,’ as she returns to the SVU set for season 26. She’s worked with everyone for so long, and playing this character is one she cherishes. She feels privileged they keep asking her back. It’s tough to refuse when she steps onto set and there’s an immediate connection with everyone from the A camera operator to Mariska.
On the TV series, Rollins stepped down from SVU to accept a teaching position at Fordham University. However, as depicted in a late-season episode, this change didn’t seem ideal, leading to her departure from that role too. Starting this week, Rollins will make multiple appearances on SVU throughout the new season, and she recently discussed Rollins’ new job and future possibilities of reprising the role with The Hollywood Reporter.
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Have the producers told you yet how many episodes you’ll be in this season?
David Graziano referred to it as a “bouquet.” The one I filmed for airing on [Thursday] is what we have in store, and I’m currently filming another, which is quite thrilling since it’s an exceptionally unique episode. While many may say this frequently, it promises to be an exhilarating journey. I believe the viewers will find themselves deeply engaged with this one.
Can you tell me a little about that one?
[Smiles] No.
And what was the pitch for this episode and her return to the force?
As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve stumbled upon an intriguing concept: crime tourism – something I hadn’t heard before. Essentially, it involves individuals traveling to towns, committing crimes such as robberies, and disappearing within 48 hours. At first glance, it appears clever, but the challenge lies in outsmarting them to bring them to justice. The idea of pursuing the criminal mind has always fascinated me, and now with Rollins moving to a new division, she gets to explore this intrigue in a fresh, exciting manner. Instead of focusing solely on apprehending rapists, she’s tackling a broader spectrum of criminals. It feels like a natural evolution for her character.
What’s the attitude of Rollins towards her new position? What benefits or experiences does she seem to be gaining now, compared to when she was off the force?
While instructing, Rollins was imparting knowledge on the methods needed to apprehend criminals. However, what she truly yearned for was to be the one to capture the wrongdoers herself, acting on her intuition and drawing upon all her life experiences to anticipate their next steps. This relentless eagerness to know and understand, a trait I’ve admired about Rollins, has perhaps led her into precarious situations in the past, but it seems to be serving her well now that she’s grown more seasoned.
However, what sets this episode apart is the unique strategies each character employs. While Benson adopts a method of splitting forces, essentially hunting for the rapist, Rollins’ focus lies in capturing the criminals at large. Though their objectives may not always align perfectly, especially when it comes to apprehending a rapist versus any other criminal, this tension makes for an intriguing dynamic – it’s not always sunshine and daisies with Benson.
Watching Rollins in her latest role and realizing we’ll appear together multiple times, it’s almost as if we’re setting up a new installment of Law & Order. Have you discussed this possibility with the Wolf Entertainment team at all?
The Wolf camp is definitely someone I’ve loved being in business with. They know how to make a solid, solid show. I really think this [intelligence bureau] is an awesome take, and a new thing that hasn’t been explored. Hearing the true stories of the people that are actually in these positions, it’s the most interesting stuff I’ve heard in a very long time. My interest is piqued.
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Special Victims Unit airs new episodes every Thursday evening at 9 PM on NBC. Alternatively, you can catch up on the episodes that aired the previous day on Fridays on Peacock.
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2024-10-18 05:24