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2018 – Vivian and Charlotte Cabell

Vivian and Charlotte Cabell are young actresses from the New York City area. The girls are best known for their recurring role of Jesse Rollins on the hit NBC series Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.

1. How did Viv and Charlie get started in the industry?
I (their mom) submitted their photo to an agency that only works with twins. I didn’t hear anything back for about a year when they were asked to audition for “The Blacklist”. They were not chosen for the role, but about a week later I received a phone call asking them to audition for the role of “Jesse Rollins” on Law and Order SVU. They did great at their audition and a few days later I found out that they got the role!

2. What was the experience like for their first audition?
For their audition with Law and Order SVU, my husband and I were surprised to find out that it was quite intimidating! They entered a room full of adults with clip boards and were faced with a huge TV screen and a professional camera pointed at them. A man that we later learned was the director picked up Vivian and sat her in a high chair facing the camera and about a dozen strangers. She was then handed a toy phone and was asked to say “Hi Grandma!” She did great and then it was Charlotte’s turn and she also did well considering the professional atmosphere!

3. What was the casting process like for Law & Order: SVU?
As far as I know, the casting for the role of “Jesse” was not advertised. Jonathon Strauss casting agency saw their audition for the Blacklist and noticed that they looked like they could be Kelli Giddish’s daughter and they got very lucky for being in the right place at the right time.

4. Who was the first person Viv and Charlie met on their first day?
The first person they met was Kelli Giddish who was so incredibly warm and welcoming to the girls. She was very playful with them and made them feel like they were the only ones on set that day. She’s a very kind person.

5. How is it decided which of the girls films which scene?
On the first season they were on, the director called for Charlotte first because she did do a little bit better in her audition. Now that we’re in the second season, Vivian has been going on the set first. Only once did we have to switch them out because Charlotte needed to take a lunch break.

6. What is the best part of working with Kelli Giddish?
Kelli has a way of truly making Charlotte and Vivian feel very special on the set. All of her attention is focused on them and their comfort. To be in a small room with dozens of camera men, assistants, writes, directors, etc and not knowing who anyone is can be scary for even an adult, but Kelli keeps whoever is on the set completely comfortable and happy. She definitely knows what she’s doing when working with small children.

7. How do Viv and Charlie enjoy filming with Ice T?
They enjoy working with Ice T, he’s always the jokester on set keeping everyone laughing. He is very wise and gives great advice, working with him is an honor. Recently they saw him on a commercial and said, “There’s Ice T, we know him!”

8. Is there anyone in the cast they haven’t had a chance to work with you’d like to see them have scenes with soon?
They have been lucky enough to have a scene with all of the main characters except for Philip Winchester. They really enjoyed working with Noah (Ryan Buggle) and would like to see him again.

9. How do Viv and Charlie react to seeing their scenes on television?
They don’t quite understand that millions of people have seen them on TV all over the world, but they love seeing their scenes and chat about how much fun they had that day. Someday they will understand!

10. Do you have a favorite scene they have filmed for the show so far?
I think my favorite scene was the first one they filmed in episode “Pathological” season 19. Kelli was feeding Charlotte macaroni and cheese and they called her mom. It was a very sweet moment.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
The entire cast and crew of Law and Order SVU has been so kind and caring towards Charlotte and Vivian. They’re so very lucky to be a part of such an iconic and important TV show.

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