Quick Intro: Mariska Hargitay

Looking for a quick intro to Mariska Hargitay? Mariska Hargitay is most well-known for her role as Detective Olivia Benson on NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” She was born on January 23, 1964, and is the daughter of actress Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay.

Mariska Hargitay grew up in Los Angeles, California, and was named Miss Beverly Hills in 1982. She attended UCLA, where she majored in theater. This talented actress has both beauty and brains—she speaks four different languages.

Before her current role on “Law & Order: SVU,” Mariska Hargitay had recurring roles on the programs “Prince Street,” “ER,” “The Single Guy” and “Can’t Hurry Love.” She has also appeared in several TV movies and big screen features. She even provided a voice for the video game “True Crime: New York City.”

Mariska Hargitay has received accolades for her portrayal of Detective Olivia Benson for the “Law & Order” franchise. She has been nominated six times for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, which she won in 2006. She also received a Golden Globe for the role.

The “Law & Order: SVU” subject matter often involves rape and sexual abuse, and her experiences filming the show led Mariska Hargitay to start her own charity, the Joyful Heart Foundation. According to the official website, the mission of the organization is to “heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse and shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.” She has also volunteered as a rape crisis counselor.

Mariska Hargitay married fellow actor Peter Hermann in 2004. Her husband appears on “Law & Order: SVU” in the recurring role of attorney Trevor Langan. Mariska gave birth to her child, August, in 2006. She splits her time between the east and west coasts.

Resources:

Joyful Heart Foundation