Ailing Mariska Hargitay Taking Breather From SVU

Mon., Mar. 9, 2009 3:31 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

Mariska Hargitay's case requires more special attention than she first thought.

The Law & Order: SVU star will miss a few weeks of work after undergoing a second surgery to address complications from the collapsed lung she suffered in January, a rep for NBC confirmed Monday to E! News.

"She is feeling better and should be back in a couple of weeks," the network said.

Hargitay, 45, was hospitalized last week with chest pains, which her publicist said were related to her prior condition.

Though she originally wasn't expected to miss any work, doctors have advised the Emmy winner to rest up. A show rep says that Det. Olivia Benson is only expected to be MIA for one episode.

"My personal thought is she just needs to take a little time and rest," Ice-T, whose character will fill in for Hargitay's in her absence, told People of his SVU costar. "I mean, it's a serious thing. You can't just come right back. You'll reinjure yourself."

Not that Hargitay isn't a tough cookie.

"Mariska is the type of woman that if you walk up and say, 'How are you?' She's almost like a guy and is like, 'Yeah, yeah, I'm all right,' " added Ice-T.

"It's almost as if you insult her. She doesn't want you to feel sorry for her, she's like, 'I'm on my feet.' "