Girl Power Is Taking Over Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: SVU boosts its roster of strong women with the long-wished-for return of fan favorite Kelli Giddish

- SHELBY STIVALE With reporting by Christina Garibaldi

Giddish observes that Rollins has "gotten more mature with the impulse control."

As excited as fans were to see Amanda Rollins back in Special Victims Unit, actress Kelli Giddish was no less excited herself, especially because it brought her and Law & Order: SVU lead Mariska Hargitay together again full-time. In fact, Giddish's return episode on Oct. 16 ended with a scene SVU viewers have sorely missed: Det. Rollins and Hargitay's Capt. Olivia Benson alone in the squadroom for their version of a girl chat.

“There are a lot of random hugs. We're just like, 'Oh, thank God,” Giddish, 45, tells