Keke Palmer has turned into quite the icon in the world of acting. After starring in Jordan Peele’s Nope, she changed her reputation as a child star into something much greater and rarely seen: a critically acclaimed actress. She has been making her rounds even outside of acting, being a beloved singer, and having just released a book called Master of Me.

A still of Keke Palmer from Nope | Credit: Universal Pictures

During a recent interview, the actress looked back at her early years as an actress, before she was heading shows. Long before she joined the cast of Akeelah and the Bee, she was like any other up-and-coming actress, working as an extra.

However, she got to fulfill a dream that very few get when they are starting out. Palmer got the opportunity to star in her favorite show, Law & Order, playing the role of an extra and getting starstruck by Mariska Hargitay.

Keke Palmer’s Dream Role

Recently, Keke Palmer gave the BuzzFeed Puppy Interview, where she talked about several iconic moments in her career. Although the actress has certainly become somewhat of an icon when it comes to pop culture, there is one lesser-known moment from her career that was deeply meaningful to her.

Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Credits: NBC

In 2005, the actress played the role of Tasha Wright in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Although her role was very small and she did not stay on screen for many scenes, being a part of the series, on its own, seemed to be a very big deal for young Palmer.

During her interview, she confessed that she was a very big fan of the series growing up. Specifically talking about Mariska Hargitay and her character in the series, Olivia Benson, Palmer revealed that the series had a very big impact on her, going as far as to say that she was living for the show at one point.

I grew up watching her show and living for her show all my life as a kid, and I got the opportunity to work with her when I was 12 years old.

Keke Palmer in Nope | Credit: Universal Pictures

With this, one can imagine that starring in her favorite show and being in the same scene as her favorite actress was a life-changing moment for her, even though she was just 12 years old.

Mariska Hargitay Has a Certain Effect on Extras

Keke Palmer talked about her role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, pointing out that she did not have a big role to play in the series. She played the role of a victim of a kidnapping by a pedophile, who was seriously hurt by Hurricane Katrina when she was escaping. She appeared in the tenth episode of the seventh season and didn’t make an appearance again.

Palmer in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Credits: NBC

Considering how insignificant her role was in the series, many may not remember her. However, the small appearance had a very big impact on Palmer’s personal life. The actress confessed that she was supposed to be in character when she had her scene with Mariska Hargitay’s character.

However, since she was a very big fan of her and the series, she could not keep her cool. Palmer revealed that the moment that Hargitay walked into the room, she started to freak out about seeing her.

She saved me from [Hurricane] Katrina in the storyline. I was in the hospital, my last breath in character. This is the first moment I meet her. She walks through that door, and I became speechless, y’all. I forgot how to act. I thought I really was from Katrina and was on my last breath.

Mariska Hargitay and Keke Palmer in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Credits: NBC
Palmer even joked that she started taking her role a little too seriously, actually behaving like a victim of the hurricane.