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By Ileane Rudolph July 01, 2009 02:27 PM EST

A week before they were due on the Law & Order: SVU set to start shooting Season 11, Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay finally signed contracts to continue on the NBC hit for two more years, reportedly bringing their payday to about $400,000 per episode. Meloni talks exclusively to TV Guide Magazine about the deal and continuing as Det. Elliot Stabler.

So you're back for an eleventh season of SVU. How do you feel about finally signing a new contract?
I feel great! The unknown is always a little distracting. Once all the T's get crossed and the I's get dotted, it's just a sense of "Ok, now I can focus on things more important to you."

Why did the negotiations go up to the wire? Was it purely financial or did creative or other issues intrude as well?
There were a few quality-of-life issues as well. Meaning work hours, that stuff. Aside from that, when you're dealing with the types of money, and I don't mean just mine and Mariska's contracts, I mean the economic climate, everyone trying to squeeze out as much money as they can both from the product and us as performers that you have to tread carefully because it's a very uncertain environment out there. It was the dance that needed to be danced. It was a long waltz.

A very long waltz.
Yeah, but that's kind of what has to be when you're dealing with these kinds of numbers.

Could you have returned to the show without Mariska? Can you imagine that?
Can I imagine that? It would have been a different show. (laughs)

You do negotiate as a team, don't you?
That makes sense. I think the show really does hinge on the Benson and Stabler dynamic.

Were the fans with you and Mariska during the negotiations?
I divided them up into sections. The vast majority believe money's not the issue. They were like "These are guys who are workers. And if they're in a position to get as much as they can for the work that they do, good for them." And then there's the other side that I'll call the "playa haters," who begrudged and were very upset that we should ask to get paid what we thought was at the very least fair market value. On the whole, 90% were with us and then you had the 10% weren't. They were really upset that all this was maybe threatening the continuation of the show.

Speaking of that, is it true you're back for two years?
Yep.

So now the show has to get picked up for that long.
That's true. Yeah.

During your negotiations, everyone I spoke with from the show in front of and behind the cameras told me that they were sure you were both returning. Was there ever a time that you weren't as sure as they seemed to be, that you thought this might not happen? Were you ever down about the process?
If you're going to negotiate you can't negotiate falsely, which is to say I was fully prepared not to come back. If I hadn't come back, it wouldn't have been the end of the world for me. I love these people, I love working there, I love the show. But in the end, it's like acting. You have to say it with meaning, you have to commit to what you laid out. That's the only stance you can take in anything you do, whether it's acting or negotiating. I had made peace. I had made peace with all outcomes.

How do you feel about the agreement?
Very good. It's one of these things that I didn't get some things and they didn't get some things and I think that's a very healthy outcome of the negotiations. Everyone's not quite happy, and everyone's not quite unhappy (laughs).

Is Mariska as pleased as you are about the new deal?
Yeah. We've spoken and I think it's the outcome that she was hoping for.

You mentioned quality of life, will you be in every episode? Will we see as much of Elliot Stabler as we have?
Yes. I will. That's not going to change.

So you're still going to work really hard.
Yeah, I've always liked working hard. Don't get me wrong, to be able to take a half day off is awful nice too.

Are you happy to back to work?
Yes and no. I really enjoy having extreme quality and quantity time now with my children. Working out of New York, it's really nice to experience the summer. I need to feel the warmth and the freedom and leisure of summer months. On the other hand, I get a little edgy if I'm out of work for too long.

When do you go back to work?
On Monday.

So can you talk a little bit about the new season? You must have seen the scripts and talked to Neal Baer by now. What's the big arc for Stabler this year?
I don't know! That's part of the negotiation. These were real serious negotiations. And part of that was let's not bet on Meloni coming back. I think they plotted things out, obviously. I don't think there was use in letting me know if I wasn't going to be back (laughs).

When did you sign the deal?
A couple of days ago.

Have you talked to Neal yet? Do you have any idea what's happening with Elliot?
No! I'm on vacation. (laughs)

You're going back to work with an empty slate?
Yeah, and I kind of like it. By this juncture, I don't have to ruminate too much on the path of Elliot Stabler. I kind of fit into the storyline and where it leads.

What would you like to happen with Elliot?
I'd love to have a reunion with Robert Patrick. He played a guy who was a rapist who had gotten out. I'd love to see him out again on a technicality. It's fun to work with him.

Do you know that Wentworth Miller guests in your first episode this fall?
I didn't know that. That's awesome.

Do you know have a new ADA played by Christine Lahti for four episodes?
I heard that. I'm very excited about it. I'm a huge fan.

Do you have any idea what your interplay will be with her?
I'm sure there will either be sexual tension or fireworks. (Laughs)

How do you feel about having Stephanie March back for a bunch of episodes after Lahti leaves?
I love Stephanie, both personally and professionally. I've always been very happy and comfortable acting with her. Absolutely. She's a nice addition.

How long was your hiatus and what did you do?
A little over two months. I took a cooking class in Florence. I spent a lot of time water skiing and playing basketball.

At your weekend place?
The basketball was in town because my kids were still in school for the first part of our hiatus. But we did get our getaway trip.

How good is your cooking now?
I'd say very beginner-ish. I was totally surprised that it jump-started my interest in cooking, which I had never focused on at all. And all of a sudden, my curiosity's been peaked.

We'll know the lessons really took when you bring ziti to the set.
Or maybe an eggplant dish. Something a little more exotic.

It's a big relief the deal was finally completed, right?
(Laughs) They really do like to milk the drama in everything.

by Ileane Rudolph July 02, 2009 11:36 AM EST

Welcome back to the Special Victims Unit! How do you feel about finally signing on that dotted line?
I'm thrilled! I was extremely hopeful that this would work out. I always felt that it would. I am so not done with Olivia Benson! [laughs]

Was there ever a time when you feared the deal wouldn't happen?
Well, there were moments that were a little tense, but I try to stay positive in life. I always hoped it would work out.

The negotiations were lengthy-up until a week before you were due on set. What were the sticking points?
For me, it was about balancing family life and work life. I had a big year health-wise, so for me it was about balancing that and time off and figuring out how I could do the show and be the best wife and mother I could be.

So the financial issues weren't alone at the top for you?
No, not at all.

Are you satisfied with the deal that finally got hammered out?
I'm thrilled. I've had a long and incredible relationship with Dick Wolf, [executive producer] Neal Baer and Chris Meloni. I love my job. I love acting with Chris. I think that Neal is one of the best writers on television. I'm honored to work with him. He's a mentor to me, an incredible writer, but also an amazing humanitarian. I'm very attached to the show and to these people, so I cannot be happier.

Understandably, you want more time off. But how will that show up on screen? Less Olivia?
No. Of course, Olivia will be in every episode.

So how will you work less? The show is known for its very long hours.
They're in the process of figuring that out.

You were hospitalized three times for a collapsed lung during the last season. How's your health now?
It's great. I'm feeling very strong now. I had a lovely hiatus, spending a lot of time with my son and my husband. I needed a hiatus more this year than ever in ten years. It's a marathon, this year. It's really hard. I obviously had a rougher time because of my health issues, being hospitalizing three times and all of that. But I'm feeling strong again and ready to go back to work.

Did you take it easy during your hiatus?
Well, I went to Washington for the Correspondents Dinner and then I got honored with the Hope Award for some work I did on breast cancer. Then I went to a Senate hearing on rape in the Congo. Just doing a lot of charity work, including for my foundation, Joyful Heart. It was fantastic, but still not unplugging and not recharging.

You and Chris negotiate as a team. Would you have returned without him?
Absolutely not.

What do you want for Benson this year?
I want her to have some personal fulfillment. She lives a very lonely existence, so I would love for her to have a little bit of light and joy in her life. The only light she has is Stabler.

And he's married to somebody else.
Right. So that's really hard. I would love to see her life become a little bit more balanced.

Adopt a baby?
Would love it! But I don't know if that's a good idea for a mom who puts her life at risk every day.

Do you know that Wentworth Miller is in your first episode?
I just found out. That's exciting. He was a convict in Prison Break and he's a cop this time, so that will be fun for him.