Is Mariska Hargitay Ready to Retire from Law & Order: SVU? She Says…

Mariska Hargitay isn't ready to say goodbye to Detective Olivia Benson just yet.

But that doesn't mean the longtime Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star hasn't pictured what her next chapter will look like when the time finally comes for her to walk away from the NBC crime drama.

"I have thought about that," Mariska—who has starred on the series since 1999—exclusively told E! News. "Not yet. Just thought about it for way later. But I'm open."

However, the 60-year-old knows she'll stay just as busy after she gives up her character's badge.

"I'm a very active person with a lot of irons in the fire," Mariska noted. "I am somebody who follows the signs. I trust that the future will be right and that I will be where I'm supposed to be. I'm very engaged and fulfilled at SVU right now and there's definitely things that I want to do and achieve challenge myself with."

Which seems to be coming sooner than later. After all, she has a secret project in the works: "I will have a big, big announcement in January."

Until then, she’s fighting crime on screen—and making the real world a better place.

In addition to her Joyful Heart foundation, which heals, educates and empowers survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, she also recently partnered with Purina to support their Purple Leash Project, which helps domestic violence shelters across the country become pet-friendly. 

"One of the statistics that I found staggering was that 89 percent of victims of domestic violence had their pet threatened or hurt," she shared. "Abusers use that as an intimidation tool and weaponize their animals against them."

"The fact that whether or not your pet could come with you when you're in this incredibly dangerous situation was staggering to me, " Mariska added. "They want to make shelters pet-friendly so a survivor never has to choose between their pet and their own safety. I thought it was incredible."

Law & Order: SVU airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on NBC. And keep reading to look back at Mariska and Benson's evolution over the last two decades.

Baby Olivia Benson before lots of layers.

She means business.

She really means business. Hargitay said this haircut almost got her fired.

The Justin Bieber before Justin Bieber was a thing.

She's looking for the scissors.

This is kind of quintessential Olivia Benson.

Remember this episode where she talked to a girl on the phone the whole time?

Bangs!

Post-baby (in real life), sassy new 'do.

Werkin' that bridge.

Classic later seasons Liv look.

No blunt haircuts here.

The first season without Stabler, Liv let her hair do the talking.

Look at those waves.

After being held captive and tortured, Benson chopped off her hair.

Benson became a sergeant in season 16, you can tell by the "I'm in charge" look on her face.

No more waves, Benson's gone pin-straight and down the middle for season 17.

This isn't your typical mom 'do.

She's sarge and in charge. Not a drastic change to season 18, but there are more choppy angles here.

Sleek and simple. Still similar to her previous seasons look, but with a middle part.

Just a casual windswept moment. 

Did we shamelessly use this selfie as a way to work in a Stabler and Benson reunion moment? Why yes, yes we did. 

We need the number of Hargitay's hair colorist.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family)

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