Mariska Hargitay Gives Fans 'Shivers' as She Cuddles a Boa Constrictor

Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay gave fans a little shock as she reconnected with her childhood and cuddled with a big snake.

The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actress shared some new snaps that surprised her fans, as Hargitay posed with a boa constrictor climbing up her as she wore a big smile on her face with her eyes closed in a peaceful expression.

"I got to hold this gorgeous creature yesterday," she explained in her Instagram update on Tuesday, March 19, before revealing a "fun fact" about her childhood. "Well [sic] I was a kid, we had a boa constrictor as a pet. I know I know…"

Hargitay said her recent cuddle session with a snake "brought me right back," while adding some meaningful hashtags: "#SnakeLife #Trust #SnakeCharmer #Reputation (my version)."

Some fans shared the actress' love of snakes, with replies like, "Oooh look at that little cutie!!!" and, "As an SVU loving snake mom, this makes me happy!" while quite a few declared it, "Reputation (Mariska’s Version)."

But there were also many people who couldn't wrap their heads around getting so close to a snake, such as a fan who wrote, "Oh, I just did the shivers."

"i just threw my phone half way thru my room?? snakes are so scary help," said another fan who doesn't share Hargitay's love for reptiles, as a different comment read, "Omg I’d be terrified but somehow you make it look like a cute fluffy kitten."

Many more called the actress "brave" and "fearless," and who knows? Maybe Hargitay's love for snakes will rub off on some fans. Hargitay, who stars as Captain Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU, didn't share why she was holding the snake or where the encounter happened.

These days, she's often on set in New York City filming the hit crime drama, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. If we're lucky, maybe the snake will make a special guest appearance on a new episode.

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