Law And Order: SVU Guest Star Is ‘Fulfilling A Bucket List’ Item As A Longtime Fan, But Her Character Is Complicated In New Episode

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The long-running series Law & Order: SVU is starting a fresh chapter this fall with a new female showrunner and the return of Kelli Giddish as Amanda Rollins for Season 27. The October 23rd episode will feature a particularly complex case – even for SVU. Actress Danielle Macdonald, known for her role in Poker Face, will guest star and recently shared with TopMob that she’s a longtime fan of the show and what drew her to the role.

The next episode of Law & Order: SVU, titled “Feed the Craving,” will premiere on October 23rd and centers around the idea of uncontrollable impulses. The story begins with the kidnapping of a woman while she’s in labor. Rollins, back on the team, and Curry will investigate by following leads from the woman’s doula. Eventually, Carisi will attempt to secure a confession to solve the case, and Benson will be involved as usual, even though her boss, Chief Tynan, is trying to move her to an administrative position.

Danielle Macdonald, who plays Natalie in “Feed the Craving,” is joining the Law & Order universe for the first time. She’s a longtime fan of SVU, like many viewers, and recently talked about her excitement.

I have a lot of fond childhood memories of watching this show with my family. Procedural crime dramas were really popular in Australia when I was growing up, and we were big fans. SVU was one of our favorites, so when I got the chance to be on the show, it felt like a dream come true. My parents were thrilled too! As a teenager, I always imagined being part of a show like this, so stepping into that world was an amazing and surreal experience – it was like checking something off a childhood bucket list.

After nearly three decades on television, with reruns playing for over ten years and now available on streaming platforms like Peacock and Hulu, it’s not surprising that many SVU fans first discovered the show as kids and teens, even with its often difficult subject matter. Danielle Macdonald, who has been a fan since her teenage years in Australia, recently shared her thoughts on why SVU remains so popular.

It’s odd how something dealing with such heavy themes can be so popular and comforting, but maybe that’s exactly what people need. The creators are really clever about how they present it – it draws you into the story without being overwhelmingly depressing or leaving you feeling hopeless for days. I’ve always appreciated that; they strike a really good balance.

The show’s format has clearly been successful, allowing Law & Order: SVU to run for an impressive 27 seasons. Interestingly, it’s actually a bit more flexible than the original Law & Order series. A major factor in SVU‘s longevity is Mariska Hargitay, who has been the show’s star since the beginning, and Macdonald noted it felt unusual at first to work alongside the Emmy-winning actress.

Viewers will need to watch the show to find out how Natalie impacts the story of the woman kidnapped during childbirth, but Danielle Macdonald noted that guest actors often face difficult roles. She offered a sneak peek at what to expect from her character.

My character is actually quite complex – there’s a lot more to her than you initially see. Playing her was really interesting because I had to dig deep to understand her motivations and personality.

Natalie will play a central role in the first episode with Rollins returning to Special Victims, making the case particularly compelling. It will be interesting to see how both the victims and the investigators navigate this situation as they work together for one of their first cases. Actress Jamie Gray Hyder shared what drew her to the script for the episode, “Feed the Craving”:

What’s compelling about Law & Order: SVU is how many women connect with it – it deals with difficult issues they unfortunately understand. I found it particularly interesting to see a story that explored the complexities of sexual abuse in a way we don’t often see, and it really highlighted the deep impact it can have. That aspect of the show was truly fascinating.

The latest preview for “Feed the Craving” shows Benson realizing the number of victims is much larger than she initially thought. Here’s a sneak peek:

Don’t miss Danielle Macdonald’s appearance on Law & Order: SVU this Thursday, October 23rd, at 9 p.m. Eastern on NBC. It airs between new episodes of the 25th season of Law & Order and the fifth season of Law & Order: Organized Crime. All three shows are also available to stream on Peacock.

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2025-10-24 01:42