At Tuesday’s inaugural Gotham TV Awards, Mariska Hargitay took the stage to accept her Anniversary Tribute honor with heartfelt sincerity, reflecting on the profound mission of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Having appeared in 550 episodes over 25 seasons, she humbly acknowledged the show’s impact, remarking, “The biggest thing for me to take in right now is that I get to work every day on a show that makes people feel less alone.”
Speaking at New York’s Cipriani 25 Broadway, Hargitay emphasized the devastating isolation faced by victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. “Perpetrators depend on actual, literal isolation to commit their crimes and to leave victims with the trauma of deep, psychological isolation,” she noted.
For a quarter-century, Hargitay has portrayed Olivia Benson, a dedicated detective in the NYPD’s sex crimes unit. With a blend of humor and pride, she quipped, “After 20, you’re like, ‘Twenty years?! Who gives a s–t? Law & Order did that. Gunsmoke did that. Call us when you get to 25.’ Well, here I am, baby!”
Hargitay’s speech highlighted the core purpose of the Dick Wolf-produced drama. “I cannot tell you how gratifying it is, how important it is, that Law & Order: SVU, the longest-running scripted drama in television history, is a show that tells women’s stories,” she declared. “It’s a show that tells survivors’ stories. It tells the stories of survivors all along the spectrum of gender identity.”
Of her beloved character, she said, “I love that she’s equal parts outrage and compassion and strength and vulnerability.” Hargitay passionately stated that the show’s message to survivors is the antithesis of isolation: “You matter. Your story matters. And we’re going to tell it.” She emphasized that the show aims to bring difficult topics out of the darkness and into the light, fostering conversation and healing.
NBC renewed SVU for a 26th season last March. In honor of Hargitay’s milestone, Rockefeller Plaza was temporarily renamed Olivia Benson Plaza, celebrating her enduring legacy.