Law and order svu olivia benson

She investigates sexual offenses such as rape and child sexual abuse. When the series began, Benson held the rank of detective. Benson was partnered with Detective Elliot Stabler Christopher Meloniserving as the junior member of the pair.

In , she was promoted to Lieutenant. When she was a detective, her badge number was As a sergeant, her badge number was As a lieutenant and captain, she no longer has a badge number. Olivia was born on February 7, as the product of the rape of her mother, Serena Benson in the spring of by a food salesman named Joseph Hollister , who later committed suicide. At the time of the rape, Serena had been working in the cafeteria of Columbia University. Serena was an alcoholic who emotionally and physically abused Benson.

Law and order svu olivia benson

However, in this series, the crimes they investigate are of a particularly heinous variety: sexually-based offenses. Benson has a tough exterior when confronting suspects, but that belies an emotional core that allows her to connect with victims. Her early life is marked by tragedy, starting with her father raping her mother, Serena, and then taking his own life. Benson's relationship with her mother was permanently affected when she met Burton Lowe. They started dating when Olivia was 16, and he was 21, and a student of Serena's, who was an English professor. Lowe proposed to Benson, but Serena threatened the young man to stay away, which he hesitantly agreed to. However, their reunion is short-lived when Lowe is accused of sexually assaulting a former student who wants him arrested. Lowe denies these allegations, but Benson realizes her relationship with Lowe was inappropriate because she was minor. Instead of denying it, Lowe claims they were in love. When Benson demands an admission of guilt, Lowe refuses, and the two part. Benson's younger years were filled with anger and abuse but she had never considered one of the happy memories would end up being secretly terrible. As an investigator, her great skill is that she can connect the dots that others don't see, including her own. What Benson has learned at SVU exposes a wound in her past and while it may be painful, it's healthy that she finds the truth.

When a victim is hurt, a suspect lost, or her partner shot, Benson often blames herself. Their relationship hits a rough patch in the episode when Cassidy is accused of rape, which results in their relationship becoming public.

Grew Up… in Manhattan with an alcoholic mother who emotionally abused her. The SVU handles sexually based offenses, which obviously have a special resonance to Olivia given how she was born. Benson is always extremely professional on the job, and she and her partner are a well-respected team within their unit. Interests… mountain climbing and catching criminals — especially the latter. Like all cops should, Benson believes in justice. Though she is frequently vocal when it comes to the rights of women and the LGBT community. Relationship Status… single, usually.

She said the chemistry between the characters has been "undeniable" and "a complicated factor" in their "deeply complex relationship," which has inspired countless works of fan fiction. In February , Hargitay teased what was in store for Benson and Stabler using hashtags. What kind of riddle is that! He also carried her to safety after she got shot, and the two shared a close moment in urgent care that ended in a hug. Starting in , Benson and Stabler were official partners at the Special Victims Unit for over 12 years, until Stabler's abrupt departure at the end of Season 12 in

Law and order svu olivia benson

The world of network television doesn't tend towards subtlety. Comedies are broad and punctuated by laugh tracks, while dramas feature mournful piano scores and shadowy lighting. Given the space to stretch out, however, long-running shows find themselves with characters boasting years upon years of complex backstory. Benson's life has been a hard one.

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Born Mariska Magdolna Hargitay on Jan. April 1, Also, in season 6's "Rage", she shoots and wounds serial killer Gordon Rickett Matthew Modine to prevent Stabler from killing him in cold blood. Episode: " Young Americans ". Retrieved January 6, Los Angeles Times. Universe, so it would be fun for me to be Miss Universe". See our picks. Shortly afterward, he is found dead of a heroin overdose; she feels responsible, believing that he overdosed out of despair after she disowned him. He then beats and tortures her, burning her with cigarettes and wire hangers, and holds her hostage for four days. When a judge denies the Marsdens custody of their children, Simon panics and kidnaps them. David Platt. Dodds suffers a stroke after surgery and dies. Benson is deeply sympathetic to victims of sex crimes and as a result, she is often quick to believe victims' stories.

From memorable characters and storylines to real-world effects that transcend the fourth wall, there's no denying that this procedural is about as iconic as it comes. Truthfully, a huge part of that is down to its consistent lead actress and executive producer , Mariska Hargitay, as Captain Olivia Benson.

Walt Disney. It was rumored that NBC threatened to replace Hargitay and Meloni if they persisted in their demands. Detective Elliot Stabler : Perp take it as a trophy? Upon renewing her relationship with Stabler, Benson recognizes that he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from the bombing and Kathy's death. This was exemplified when she interrogated a man until he confessed to a crime which he was later found to be innocent of and sending him to prison for life, which could have been avoided if she was thinking clearly enough to check on the evidence. Retrieved May 12, Richard Belzer Sergeant John Munch. John Munch Richard Belzer , [46] and she gets the promotion soon afterward; Cragen congratulates her for placing 48th out of 8, applicants. Her first and middle names are Hungarian and refer to Mary Magdalene Mariska is a diminutive of Mary. Episode: " Young Americans ".