In middle of heat wave, a chat with 'SVU' star Meloni over ice tea
by Liz Smith
Baltimore Sun August 8, 2006
SO, WHAT was the best way to beat the heat during the excruciating peak of last week's weather? Interview TV's hottest cop, Christopher Meloni of Law & Order: SVU. We met for ice tea at Dean & DeLuca in Rockefeller Plaza (the actor was about to run off and do the Conan O'Brien show.) He wore lighted-colored linen, he was tan, his eyes were startlingly blue; he wasn't breaking a sweat. The real-life Meloni is nothing at all like the TV characters who have made him famous - the serial killer of Oz (although he was a very sexy killer) and the intense Detective Stabler of L&O.

Meloni is a merry, unpretentious dazzler. I was surprised he'd chosen Dean & DeLuca, as it is open and light - stars usually favor something dimmer, more private. "Oh, this is OK. Nobody will bother us."

Well, nobody bothered me, but Meloni was continuously interrupted politely by fans, who said they admired his work. He was gracious. "Isn't that nice? That's what it's about really, feeling what you've done has meant something, connected to people. I really love to act; I love everything about it. I've never had this" - and he tapped a prominent vein on his muscular arm - "addiction to being known. I mean, sure, if you go into acting, there's part of you that is saying, 'I want attention' but I was brought up to work to deserve attention, and it is the work, not the trappings that are important."

But the trappings do come. One of them has been long a-borning - an Emmy nomination at last for his super-fine work as the just-about-over-the-edge Elliott Stabler. He's obviously pleased, but he's even more pleased to talk about his stage debut in Ireland last year, in Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge. He loved the experience, and wants Broadway, if he ever can squeeze in the time. (He says the View opening night, with his L&O cast on hand, was the thrill of his professional life. He actually gets goose bumps talking about it. I saw them!)

Having watched Chris interact at various galas with his wonderful co-star, Mariska Hargitay, I suggest a comedy. These two are a riot - Punch and Judy, Abbott and Costello. "Oh, I'd love that. People think, because of the roles we play, we're really serious. I assure you we are not!" (Perhaps Born Yesterday is ready for revival?)

We talk of Mariska, her beautiful new baby, her life. "One of the reasons we get along, is that we both found our success professionally and personally at around the same time, we're genuinely fond of and happy for each other."

Meloni rhapsodizes over his beautiful wife, Sherman - "I don't know anybody who doesn't love her!" and their two children. She is a production designer, so "She knows the business, she gets it, but she's not in the business, an actor. So it's not always one subject."

Meloni will soon film an ambitious, as-yet-untitled indie in New Mexico, about a bird flu pandemic, directed by the Pastor brothers, but he is up for as much of SVU as NBC wants to give him. I suggest, now that his TV character has split from his wife, they should offer fans what they want - a romance with Mariska. "Well, those things are kind of tricky, but I will sure suggest it," he said.

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