Kelli Giddish is set to reprise her role as Detective Amanda Rollins in the upcoming 26th season of Law & Order: SVU. The actress, known for her portrayal of Rollins, was spotted filming on location in New York City on September 4, 2024. Giddish, 44, was seen in a gray jacket and black pants, smiling as she walked the set.
Giddish originally exited the series midway through Season 24 in December 2022, after an 11-season run. Despite her departure, she has made several return appearances, including a notable cameo in the Season 24 finale. In that episode, which featured a crossover with Law & Order and Law & Order: Organized Crime, Rollins revealed that she was expecting her first child with Assistant District Attorney Dominick Carisi, played by Peter Scanavino.
She also appeared in the Season 25 premiere, celebrating the baptism of her character’s newborn son, Nicky. Additionally, Giddish’s character rejoined Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) later in the season to assist with an SVU case after leaving her position as a professor at Fordham University.
Reflecting on her departure in 2022, Giddish described the experience as bittersweet. “It’s funny because, after last night’s show, it does feel more final now. I didn’t expect today to feel that way,” she told PEOPLE. “Now it’s over and everyone’s seen it.”
In a recent interview with Variety, Hargitay, 60, praised Giddish as “my favorite actor to work with” and expressed regret over not being able to persuade the show’s creator, Dick Wolf, to keep Giddish on the show. “It’s a sore subject,” Hargitay admitted. “I have a lot of say on the show, but I didn’t have enough there.”
Hargitay further reflected on the significance of Giddish’s role: “That relationship was one of the most powerful relationships in television because you saw these two badass women, so flawed and so there for each other.”
As Law & Order: SVU kicks off its new season, fans can look forward to seeing Giddish once again in her iconic role, adding another chapter to her compelling journey as Detective Amanda Rollins.