Law & Order SVU star Mariska Hargitay’s life changed forever after she became pregnant, so much so that she almost left the show. Eventually, her SVU counterpart Olivia Benson would experience the joys of motherhood as well. But after Benson became a mom, Hargitay couldn’t help but approach the character differently.

How motherhood changed Olivia Benson

Hargitay has three children with husband Peter Hermann, two of which she adopted. On the season 16, episode 23 episode of SVU titled “Surrendering Noah,” Hargitay’s Benson would adopt as well. Benson took in Noah, whose biological parents were both discovered to be criminals. Hargitay was so invested in the story that she personally enlisted Brooke Shields to play Noah’s grandmother. According to Hargitay herself, she was always excited about the idea of Benson potentially becoming a parent. It was only after Warren Leight became the showrunner, however, that Hargitay saw her dream become a reality.

“I wanted Olivia to have a baby on the show for so long. There were episodes about it, which ended with social workers not approving my character adopting a child because the work is so high-risk. Then Warren told me the story about this police officer who adopted this baby, and we both sat there with tears streaming down our faces. I felt like he understood exactly what I was looking for,” Hargitay once told TV Guide.

Leight adding more depth to Benson’s personal life was another example of how, Hargitay believed, the showrunner was helping their characters grow.

“The way he’s woven in these deeply personal themes and moments, the opportunity to let these characters stretch in a three-dimensional way, has been very fulfilling, not only for me, but for all the actors on the show to play. I think that also expands the show’s original conception,” she added.

But what Hargitay didn’t expect was her own approach to Olivia Benson to change. Instead of thinking like a detective when doing the part, she thought like a detective with a child waiting for her at home.

“Here was a woman that was completely focused on work, and alone,” she once told HuffPost. “And now truly has something to live for — literally has something to live for, she has to stay alive for this child. Her priorities have changed. I even noticed yesterday, I was doing a scene and I was running into a potential set-up and I noticed myself thinking differently. As Olivia, normally I’d go in there to get them, and this time I was like, “Be careful.”

Mariska Hargitay says Noah isn’t like other child actors

Noah, played by Ryan Buggle, has remained a constant presence in the series since he was cast. So far, Benson has managed to keep her adopted child safe, although Noah had a close call with his biological mother in season 19. Since then, however, Noah has lived a healthy and happy life. Additionally, the actors’ off-screen relationship is almost as warm as their relationship on-screen. They’re so close they’ve even taken cozy pictures together with their SVU co-star Chris Meloni. Speaking with NBC Insider, Hargitay couldn’t help but gush about her fictional son the way a mother would.

“He is such a special human being,” she said. “He’s not like a lot of child actors. He is so good, wise beyond his years, so kind, just wants to learn and grow, and so engaged. Everyone adores him, and he’s such a good little actor, so I feel so safe because he’s really present and wants to learn. I just adore him because he’s also a fascinating person. He’s an incredible gymnast, he’s a great little thinker, and he asks such good questions, and he’s really open for anything. He’s like a little adult, but in a good way. I adore him, and I love having scenes with him.”

What made Buggle different from other child stars was how natural of a performer he was.

“Sometimes with little kids, it’s like, ‘OK, are they gonna get it? Am I gonna have to navigate this?’ But with him it’s not like that. I look forward to it. And I have real love for him,” she said.