Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni Cuddle Up in Sweet Selfie: 'And in the Beginning... There Was You'
Hargitay previously told PEOPLE Meloni is someone who "changed my life so much" after they met 25 years ago at an audition for 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
Evans Vestal Ward/NBC via Getty
Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay arrives to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022Calling all Benson and Stabler shippers!
Before the return of Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Organized Crime on Thursday, Christopher Meloni shared a cuddly selfie with his longtime costar Mariska Hargitay.
“…and in the beginning,” he captioned the snapshot. Hargitay, 59, then responded in the comment section, writing, “And in the beginning… There was you”
The Law & Order Instagram also praised the fan-favorite pair, sharing, “king & queen” while NBC s replied, “*saves to camera roll*”
Related: Christopher Meloni Calls Longtime Pal Mariska Hargitay by Pet Name in Kooky Birthday Tribute
Earlier this month, Hargitay opened up in PEOPLE’s cover story about her nearly two-decade friendship with Meloni.
“We met and the rest is history,” said the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star. “It's iconic. [He’s] somebody who's changed my life so much, somebody I love.”
Related: Law & Order Reveals What's Keeping Benson and Stabler Busy in Supertease Ahead of Shows' Return
Hargitay and Meloni, 62, first met during the audition process for SVU when she mistakenly thought he was actor John Slattery — a story Hargitay knows is “famous” some 25 years later, as is the tale of how they waltzed into their big moment with the executives.
“[Chris] was telling me a story as we walked into the network executive screen test, and he finished his story,” she recalled, adding that he's always had “cajones."
“It was just like that from the minute one," she said. "It was just off and running.”
Peter Kramer/NBC via Getty
Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson and Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"The duo's on-screen chemistry as Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson has proved to be just as strong as their friendship, too — and Hargitay had big feelings right away.
“I was like, 'If they match me with him, this is my role.' And he said the same thing. He goes, 'I want her.' And then he and I got it," she recalled, citing Meloni's "energy, confidence, power," and "the way he looked."
She continued, "He was the guy. I just knew he was the guy from reading the script. He was New York, this dark horse, but funny, light. I'm so grateful that those magical stars collided.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Organized Crime air Thursdays starting at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
