Law & Order: SVU’s Marisa Hargitay was mistaken for a real police officer by a lost little girl, it’s been reported.

According to PEOPLE, Hargitay was shooting on season 25 at a park and playground in New York City when a youngster separated from her mum approached her seeking help. The little girl approached Hargitay because she’d spotted the police badge that her character Olivia Benson wears on the show.

Hargitay proceeded to halt production for 20 minutes in order to locate the parent and reunite the pair.

According to an observer who spoke to the publication, the child was apparently oblivious to the rest of the cast and camera crew.

 

Hargitay recently spoke to the same publication about her history-making SVU character, who is officially the longest-running on any US primetime drama series.

This run will continue with the recent news that Law & Order: SVU has been renewed for a 26th season.

“We’ve been on a parallel journey. There’s a thing: WWOBD, ‘What would Olivia Benson do?’ The fans would always talk about it, and one day it hit me,” she said.

 

Sharing more about how her character’s traits now inform her real life, she explained: “I also have those moments where I’ve sort of slipped into her.

“If there’s a crisis, I just take over and lead like that. Being strong and fearless. It’s sort of this perfect feminist story.”

Hargitay added that she “can’t imagine the show ending” and is “still growing” on the show after almost 25 years on the air.