Sarah Hyland, Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried.Photo:NBC (3)
NBC (3)
Since its premiere in 1999,Law & Order: Special Victims Unithas been a compelling watch for both the already-huge guest stars (Robin Williams! Angela Lansbury!)andthe early-career acting turns from just-starting-out celebrities who went on to big careers. FromSabrina Carpenter’s onscreen debut in a season 12 episode (years before landing the gig as the opening act onTaylor Swift’s Eras Tour!) toSarah HylandandHayden Panettiere’srepeat appearances on the show, here’s a look at the faces who would soon become familiar during their turns on the Chris Meloni- andMariska Hargitay-led series.
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Abigail Breslin
Abigail Breslin.NBC; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
NBC; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
02of 11Adam DriverAdam Driver.NBC; Andreas Rentz/GettyAdam Driverappeared on a season 13 episode in 2012 — the same year his big break,Girls,first began airing. In the episode, Driver plays stalker-turned-suspect Jason Roberts.
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Adam Driver
Adam Driver.NBC; Andreas Rentz/Getty
NBC; Andreas Rentz/Getty
Adam Driverappeared on a season 13 episode in 2012 — the same year his big break,Girls,first began airing. In the episode, Driver plays stalker-turned-suspect Jason Roberts.
03of 11Sarah HylandSarah Hyland.NBC; Gilbert Flores/WWD via GettySarah Hylandhad already been a working actress in soap operas when she landed her firstSVUepisode in 2001 playing the role of Lily Ramsey, a young girl whose father is accused of abusing his children. She later returned for a season 10 episode as Jennifer Banks — a prep school student who admits to killing her best friend after suffering from sleep deprivation due to the abuse of pills she took to help her focus in the hyper-competitive environment.
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Sarah Hyland
Sarah Hyland.NBC; Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty
NBC; Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty
Sarah Hylandhad already been a working actress in soap operas when she landed her firstSVUepisode in 2001 playing the role of Lily Ramsey, a young girl whose father is accused of abusing his children. She later returned for a season 10 episode as Jennifer Banks — a prep school student who admits to killing her best friend after suffering from sleep deprivation due to the abuse of pills she took to help her focus in the hyper-competitive environment.
04of 11Lili ReinhartLili Reinhart.NBC; Daniele Venturelli/WireImageBefore landing the role of Betty Cooper onRiverdale, one ofLili Reinhart’s first-ever roles was on an 2011 episode ofSVUin which she played sinister teen Courtney Lane.
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Lili Reinhart
Lili Reinhart.NBC; Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
NBC; Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
Before landing the role of Betty Cooper onRiverdale, one ofLili Reinhart’s first-ever roles was on an 2011 episode ofSVUin which she played sinister teen Courtney Lane.
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Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning.NBC; Dave Benett/Getty
NBC; Dave Benett/Getty
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Haley Lu Richardson
Haley Lu Richardson.NBC; Amanda Edwards/Getty
NBC; Amanda Edwards/Getty
07of 11Amanda SeyfriedAmanda Seyfried.NBC; Michael Loccisano/GettyIn the same yearAmanda Seyfriedlanded her first major film role as Karen Smith inMean Girls,she also appeared as Tandi McCain in an episode ofSVU. In the episode, Seyfried plays a teenage girl who, days after going missing, is found tied up at a construction site and says she’s been attacked.
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Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried.NBC; Michael Loccisano/Getty
NBC; Michael Loccisano/Getty
In the same yearAmanda Seyfriedlanded her first major film role as Karen Smith inMean Girls,she also appeared as Tandi McCain in an episode ofSVU. In the episode, Seyfried plays a teenage girl who, days after going missing, is found tied up at a construction site and says she’s been attacked.
08of 11Sabrina CarpenterSabrina Carpenter.NBC; Jason Kempin/GettyYears beforeshe was opening for Taylor Swifton the Eras Tour,Sabrina Carpentermade her onscreen debut on a season 12 episode ofSVUas a young victim named Paula.
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Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter.NBC; Jason Kempin/Getty
NBC; Jason Kempin/Getty
Years beforeshe was opening for Taylor Swifton the Eras Tour,Sabrina Carpentermade her onscreen debut on a season 12 episode ofSVUas a young victim named Paula.
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Ian Somerhalder
Ian Somerhalder.NBC; Michael Bezjian/Getty
NBC; Michael Bezjian/Getty
10of 11Hayden PanettiereHayden Panettiere.NBC; Nina Westervelt/Variety via GettyHayden Panettieregot her start in the 1990s, landing a recurring role onOne Life to Liveand laterGuiding Light. In 2001, she landed her first of two episodes ofSVUplaying Ashley, the daughter of powerful and famous parents whose brother is killed in the first moments of the episode and later forms a strong bond with Olivia Benson as she starves for attention.Years later she made another appearance on the show as a Angela Agnelli, a teenage girl who gets wrapped up in a web of lies after her best friend is killed — and then later kills the man who took advantage of them both.
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Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Panettiere.NBC; Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty
NBC; Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty
Hayden Panettieregot her start in the 1990s, landing a recurring role onOne Life to Liveand laterGuiding Light. In 2001, she landed her first of two episodes ofSVUplaying Ashley, the daughter of powerful and famous parents whose brother is killed in the first moments of the episode and later forms a strong bond with Olivia Benson as she starves for attention.
Years later she made another appearance on the show as a Angela Agnelli, a teenage girl who gets wrapped up in a web of lies after her best friend is killed — and then later kills the man who took advantage of them both.
11of 11Elizabeth BanksElizabeth Banks.NBC; Araya Doheny/GettyAfter just a few years in the industry,Elizabeth Bankslanded a role on season 3 ofSVUin an episode that starts with finding the victim of a shooting and unfolds with many twists and turns about Banks' character, Jaina Jansen, and her family.
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Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks.NBC; Araya Doheny/Getty
NBC; Araya Doheny/Getty
After just a few years in the industry,Elizabeth Bankslanded a role on season 3 ofSVUin an episode that starts with finding the victim of a shooting and unfolds with many twists and turns about Banks' character, Jaina Jansen, and her family.
source: people.com
