Late-Night Highlight: Mariska Hargitay’s Awkward Fan Encounter

When a Law & Order SVU viewer sat down at a restaurant a few weeks ago, she saw a woman who resembled Detective Olivia Benson. The diner didn’t hesitate to remark to the woman that she looked a lot like the actress who played her, but a much younger and prettier version.

What she didn’t realize, of course, was that she was talking to actress Mariska Hargitay herself. Luckily, Hargitay wasn’t completely offended, and even paid for the woman’s tab on her way out. Watch Hargitay recount the story to Chelsea Handler on last night’s episode of Chelsea Lately.