Mariska Hargitay Back On Set

Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay returned to the set today for the first time since suffering a collapsed lung during the show's hiatus over the holidays.

The Emmy-winning actress, who has played detective Olivia Benson in the long-running TV drama since 1999, was back in action at a studio in North Bergen, N.J. And today (Monday 1-26) cast and crew celebrated her return to action at a studio in North Bergen, N.J.

Mariska's driver told us: "She's in there shooting and she's going to be in there late tonight." A florist from Fort Lee, N.J., was also seen delivering a large "welcome back" bouquet basket for Mariska, who celebrated her 45th birthday on Jan. 23.

Earlier this afternoon, a set-sider remarked: "Mariska's back working. It goes without saying that we're overjoyed."

Her SVU co-star Richard Belzer had said on The View that Mariska "had a little accident sledding" over the holidays. But her reps denied that was the cause of her problem and wouldn't give a specific cause for her collapsed lung. Her reps did say she was expected to make a full recovery and would appear in all episodes for the rest of the season.

Reports have said friends of Mariska were praying her collapsed lung wouldn't disrupt her plans to have a second child.

In the January issue of Ladies' Home Journal, Mariska said she and husband Peter Hermann, 41, wanted another child. "We're trying," she said.

The couple's first child, a boy named August, was born in June 2006.