Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni make up one of TV's most beloved duos: Law & Order: SVU [1]'s Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler. While their onscreen chemistry has had many fans hoping that their characters would get together, their offscreen relationship has actually been one adorable decades-long friendship [2]. From their lunchtime selfies [3] to social media exchanges, their reunions have always given people hope that Chris would one day return to SVU. Thankfully, their wish has been granted [4] with Chris's SVU spinoff. Hopefully this means we get to see even more glimpses [5] of Mariska and Chris's relationship. Until then, you can read quotes about their friendship below.
Mariska Hargitay's Quotes on Christopher Meloni
- "From the second we met, bells went off [7]. We knew we were going to be a huge force in each other's lives. He was intense and mercurial but also fun."
- "[H]e and I, from minute one were [doing] all this shtick, and laughing. It was nonstop chitchat; couldn't stop talking. All of a sudden someone comes out and pairs us up: 'Mariska and Chris.' And I thought. 'I want to be with that guy [8]!' Because we already had a thing."
- She describes her relationship with Chris as one with "instantaneous ease, trust, comfort [9]."
Christopher Meloni's Quotes on Mariska Hargitay
- "I just knew that Mariska was going to be 'The One.' I was in the middle of telling her this story, this joke. So we got up on the stage and I'm like, 'Hold on just a second, I'm going to finish telling this story.' Not being disrespectful, but this is important too. This may change my life, but the story is that funny. And I think that put us at ease, and unconsciously there was a connection you could see: That she was now my partner [10]."
- "She and I hit it off right from the get-go . . . it's always been a huge part of our relationship [11] and I think part of the success of the [Law & Order: SVU]."
- "We just pick it up right where we left off and we've said it's like we don't have this relationship with anyone else [12] . . . it's unique, it's full of laughter, she's full of love. We just kind of fall seamlessly into that place every time we see each other."