Since 1999, Mariska Hargitay has been captivating audiences with her portrayal of Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU. Given the show’s sensitive subject matter, Hargitay has developed ways to emotionally prepare for her demanding role. One of her go-to methods involves listening to a particular song from The Hamilton Mixtape.
The Profound Impact of Fans on Mariska Hargitay
Hargitay feels a profound connection to her fans, many of whom have shared their personal stories of abuse with her. “It’s been a privilege to witness a lot of people’s stories and their deepest, most intimate, delicate stories of their lives,” Hargitay said during an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “People have been disclosing, and I started getting a very different kind of fan mail. Instead of people saying, ‘Oh, I love your show,’ they started disclosing.”
These heartfelt letters inspired Hargitay to establish the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004. The foundation aims to “transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors’ healing, and end this violence forever.”
Hargitay noticed a recurring theme in the letters she received: many fans spoke of their feelings of shame and isolation. “It’s been profound and beautiful to have people say, ‘Your show changed my life; now I know that I’m not alone,’” Hargitay shared.
The Hamilton Mixtape’s Role in Hargitay’s Preparation
During her interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Hargitay couldn’t help but express her admiration for Clarkson. “Can I say one thing? Because I’ve gotta get this out,” Hargitay began. “I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m a huge Hamilton fan. I think I’m second only to Rosie O’Donnell in terms of how many times I’ve seen Hamilton. I saw the Broadway show 22 times.”
Hargitay recalled how deeply she and her husband, Younger star Peter Hermann, were moved by the play. They were so emotional after the opening night that they skipped the Broadway premiere party and went home instead.
“What I want to tell you is I had The Hamilton Mixtape on, and I heard your rendition,” Hargitay said to Clarkson. “And I have to say it slayed me. And it affected me so deeply, still to this day. Sometimes I prepare [for an acting scene], listening to that if it’s a really emotional scene. I feel such an intimate connection with you on an artistic level and I just wanted to share that.”
Clarkson was thrilled by Hargitay’s kind words, calling it the “compliment of the year.” The song in question is “It’s Quiet Uptown,” which Clarkson performed at Live on the Honda Stage at iHeartRadio in 2016. Hargitay praised Clarkson for delivering the song with incredible depth and power.
Mariska Hargitay’s emotional preparation techniques and her deep bond with her fans illustrate her dedication to her craft and her compassion for those affected by the issues depicted on Law & Order: SVU.
