Christine Lahti Returns to Law & Order: SVU

Christine Lahti | Photo Credits: Will Hart/NBCTV Guide

An Oscar-nominated actress will return to Law & Order: SVU this season — but don't get nervous, it's not Sharon Stone. It's Christine Lahti, reappearing as overbearing ADA Sonya Paxton sent by the DA's office to ride herd on the SVU team.

A nasty alcoholic, she butted heads with Stabler (Chris Meloni) and was eventually forced to enter rehab. Paxton reappeared in a later episode only to warn Alexandra Cabot (Stephanie March) not to trust the cops. She'll return in this season's ninth episode on a case and is supposedly all cleaned up. "She has a huge scene where she faces off with Stabler," SVU's executive producer Neal Baer tells TV Guide Magazine exclusively.