'SVU' Actor Ryan Buggle on Learning to Have 'Heart' from Mariska Hargitay and Gaming on Set with Ice-T

The teen, who plays Captain Olivia Benson's son Noah on Law & Order: SVU, recalls a sweet memory from one of his first scenes with his TV mom and name-checks Tom Holland as a dream guest star

Ryan Buggle has spent more than half of his 13 years of life on the set of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Noah, the son of Mariska Hargitay's Captain Olivia Benson, so it's only natural that some of the teen's favorite (and silliest) memories are of his on-screen mom.

"I remember when she put whipped cream on my face," Buggle recalls fondly of one of his very first SVU scenes, in which Noah and Liv snuggled on the couch.

"Working with her is like a dream," Buggle says of Hargitay, 59. "My favorite part of being on set is definitely creating the friendships that I have, the friends and family."

Buggle, who has already graced the boards of Broadway, is committed to continually honing his skills as a performer even after six years on the long-running procedural.

"Something recently I learned about acting — from Mariska, actually — is to always act with your heart and come from a real natural place," he says. "My favorite thing about her is that whenever we're on set, it's always an acting class. I really love her kindness."

"I just love how she's such an incredible actor — and director," he adds, his face lighting up talking about Hargitay's work helming the series (her latest directorial effort, guest-starring Emmy-nominated actor Bradley Whitford, aired in February).

Related:Bradley Whitford on Being Directed by Mariska Hargitay for SVU: 'I Wish Fans Could See Her Working'

The off-screen relationship between Buggle and Hargitay is just as vibrant as the on-screen one, and Buggle says that sometimes the lines really do get blurred during filming.

"Mariska definitely knows me, Ryan, because sometimes when we're filming a scene instead of saying 'Noah,' she's like, 'Oh, Ryan.' Then she's like, 'Oh, I messed up!'" he shares with a laugh.

In fact, Buggle's most challenging scene to date was one that just aired in January as Noah watched his mom get attacked right in front of him by gang members.

"It was the BX9 scene," Buggle recalls. "It was fun, but also really hard and scary, too, because I literally saw Mariska getting beat up in front of me."

To prepare for the tough scene, Buggle did the one thing that he knows always works: he talked it through with "mom."

"I talked to Mariska about it a lot before [we filmed]" he explains. "And I just think because I've been Noah for so long, I just kind of think 'How would Noah feel?' and that's just how I do it."

That BX9 gang scene wasn't all bad, though — Buggle has found a love for stunt work (he's already a gymnast in addition to acting and dancing), and he hung around the set a little longer just to check out the action.

"If I'm being honest, I kind of stayed two hours after just to watch the stunts happen," he admits with a smile.

Related:Mariska Hargitay Bumps Into a Law & Order Superfan on Her Flight — and She's Wearing SVU Merch!

Looking to the future, Buggle sees himself emulating his on-screen mom and mentor, telling PEOPLE: "I would definitely like to act and do my own stunts, and I really want to direct when I'm older."

But, for now, Buggle is as happy as any 13-year-old can be on the set of SVU. Even his down time is inherently cool: he plays Mario Kart with Ice-T.

Related:Mariska Hargitay Calls SVU Costar Ice-T the 'OG of Friendship' at Walk of Fame Ceremony

Naturally, Buggle chooses Mario as his character. But Ice-T?

"Donkey Kong," reveals Buggle. "He kind of crushes me a little bit. I think he's had a lot of practice."

And, while Hargitay and Ice-T have famously fronted the show practically since its inception, SVU is also famous for its numerous guest stars. Should Buggle get his pick, it's a showdown between Spider-Man and... Grandma Sheila.

"It would definitely be Tom Holland. He is my idol. I love all his Spider-Mans, and I really liked that he was a ballet dancer and gymnast. He just is so cool," Buggle says of the English actor.

While the jury's still out for Buggle on whether Holland could play an SVU "perp" after so many turns as a hero, the teen switches gears to another former guest star. "Oh!" he says in an epiphany. "I would also like to have Brooke Shields on again. I would love to see what my grandma's been up to."

Shields, who is good friends with Hargitay in real life, had a multi-episode guest spot on the show back in 2017 as Noah's biological grandmother (who ultimately kidnaps him).

Related:Brooke Shields Says She's Proud of Her Daughters for 'Speaking Their Mind' in New Documentary

As season 24 draws to a close (and season 25 was announced just last week), what's left in store for Noah is mostly under wraps — though Buggle can pick the three words he thinks best describe what the end of the season has in store for his character.

"Action, drama, and family," he says without hesitation.

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Law & Order: SVU airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

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