Ryan Buggle – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

By starrymag | June 6, 2019

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the qualities that you most admire about both Olivia Benson’s character and your costar TV mom Mariska Hargitay as an individual?

A) Mariska brings her real compassion and kindness to her character Olivia Benson. They are also both amazing moms on and off screen. Mariska’s real-life kids are my real-life BFF’s now.

 

Q) What has been the most challenging moment for you to film so far and why?

A) Well, when I was filming the season finale of Season 19 last year my appendix kinda started to swell up and I got a really high fever. We wrapped shooting and I went straight to the hospital, but I was all good just a virus…. but It worked for the scene because I was supposed to be really sad! [laughs]

 

Q) How do you feel about the fans of the series being so protective and embracing of you as much as Benson?

A) They are absolutely amazing! Everyone has been so kind to me. The funny part about Season 20 is that Noah was kind of a brat so people keep stopping me on the street and telling me to be nicer!

 

Q) Noah’s relationship with his mom faces a lot of family struggles because of his birth parents. What do you think it is about the dynamic of Olivia and Noah as mother and son that will really resonate with the audience with the way that they are written and portrayed?

A) I think it’s that Olivia and Noah are the real deal. Olivia is a single working mom doing her best job and Noah is just a first grader with tons of questions. They both really grew together this season.

 

Q) Noah’s relationship with Rollins and her family is really sweet. Seeing him also connect with them has been really endearing. What really connects these characters together so strongly?

A) Noah doesn’t have much family at home so Olivia’s work family is like his. I just say have to say the twins who play little Jessie Rollins are so adorable! Shout out to Viv and Charlie – they making it easy to act!

 

Q) Did you do anything special for the celebration of the end of the season?

A) Yes, the entire cast and crew had a giant ping pong tournament and party and I’ve decided I should probably stick to acting! I was terrible!

 

Q) Over the years “SVU” has had some incredible guest stars, including Brooke Shields who portrayed Noah’s grandmother. Is there someone you would love to see guest star?

A) You really can’t get better than grandma Brooke Shields! But, yes, there are so many people I would love to work with. I’m a huge “Stranger Things” fan. Maybe Millie Bobby Brown can come on and be Noah’s new babysitter!

 

Q) Now that “SVU” is on hiatus, are there any other projects you have coming up or plans for summer?

A) Yes! I recently filmed a movie with Sean Hayes and Allison Janney on a project called Lazy Susan. I also have super-secret project that I can say nothing about so that’s no fun! But it’s gonna be awesome.

 

Q) How do you balance acting with your other passion, dancing?

A) Being homeschooled helps. Every morning I get up and stretch and do my ballet barre work. Then, I do school and if I don’t have an audition or work, I spend all night long at my studio. Pro Dance, my studio, is super amazing with my schedule.

 

Q) What do you hope fans take away from watching Noah’s relationship with his mom?

A) That those two characters love each other more than anything in the world and that no matter what they go through they are always going to be there for each other.