Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay is devastated to see her pal Kelli Giddish bowing out as Detective Amanda Rollins.

After 11 years in the role, Giddish is leaving for pastures new, but she's made quite an impression on Hargitay, who spoke to ET Canada recently.

"Oh God, Kelli. I love Kelli, she's my girl. She is one of my favourite actors that I've ever worked with and we got to build something really beautiful together and really earned together because our characters had quite a journey," she said.

mariska hargitay, law  order season 21
NBC//Getty Images

Related: Law & Order showrunner teases details of major crossover

"It wasn't so easy at the beginning and then we just fell into this beautiful safety, trust. That was a hard one. I will miss that because she was my go-to, my right hand, the woman that I could talk to.

"Olivia Benson's out there taking care of everyone else and she was somebody that really took care of me and had my back. Even though Fin has my back and Stabler has my back, it's different to have a woman have your back because it's a different perspective.

"I'm gonna miss her a lot, but she's a lifelong friend and I'm just glad that our paths crossed, and I know they'll continue to cross."

kelli giddish as detective amanda rollins, law and order svu
NBC Universal

Related: Law & Order: SVU faces major change ahead of next season

Last week, SVU head writer Julie Martin teased a blossoming romance between Benson and Stabler prior to the crossover special.

"I think what you will certainly see in the movie (premiere) is them having a great, great working relationship and falling into that easy partnership, camaraderie and partnership, kind of knowing what the other person is thinking," she said.

"It's fun to see them in that capacity again."

Law & Order: SVU airs Thursdays on NBC in the US. The show airs on Sky Witness in the UK, with select episodes available on NOW.

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Dan Seddon

Reporter, Digital Spy 

Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment

In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.