'Law & Order: SVU': The Dish on 24 Guests With Oscar Cred

MARE WINNINGHAM
Oscar cred: One nomination (1995's Georgia)
Appeared on SVU: Sept. 30, 2003, and received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Exec producer Neal Baer says: ''I'd worked with her on ER [on which he was also an exec producer]. It felt like it was the right role for her, this single mother who tries to make the right decision in a situation that has no right answers. She doesn't want her severely depressed son, played by Rory Culkin, to be labeled in school, so she gives him medication without telling the doctor and has terrible repercussions. She gave a heart-wrenching performance. She radiates a real warmth, so empathetic and yet, she can be sharp and tough. We wanted all those qualities — that's why we went to her.''