In a recent interview, Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay opened up about the profound effect her role as Olivia Benson has had on survivors of sexual abuse. Speaking with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show, Hargitay revealed, “For so long, survivors have been living in a culture of shame and isolation.” She noted that her portrayal of the empathetic and compassionate sex crimes investigator has made fans feel comfortable sharing their own stories with her. “Olivia was always for the victim first, and they felt safe with her. Hopefully, that is indeed changing now.”
Reflecting on the early days of her SVU journey, Hargitay shared, “When I started the show, I’d come off E.R. and was used to getting typical fan mail like, ‘Hi, I love your show, can I get an autographed photo?’ But with SVU, I started receiving a very different kind of letter. Victims were disclosing their stories of abuse, many for the first time.”
After portraying Olivia for 19 seasons, Hargitay admits that she sometimes “gets confused about what my real job is.” She humorously recounted instances where she intervened in real-life situations as if she were her character, saying, “There have been times in my life where I’ve seen something on the street and I jump in like, ‘Hey! Put that down!’”
Hargitay’s commitment to advocacy extends beyond her role on SVU. Her current passion project is the HBO documentary I Am Evidence, which highlights the plight of abuse victims whose cases remain unresolved due to untested rape kits. Demonstrating her versatility, she also directed the 400th episode of Law & Order: SVU last year. The show recently aired its 428th episode on April 11, showing no signs of slowing down.
Hargitay’s portrayal of Olivia Benson has not only resonated with fans but also earned her critical acclaim. She won the Emmy for Best Drama Actress in 2006, triumphing over notable competitors such as Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under), Geena Davis (Commander in Chief), Allison Janney (The West Wing), and Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer). Between 2004 and 2011, Hargitay received eight nominations in this category, second only to Angela Lansbury, who holds the record with 12 nominations for Murder, She Wrote.
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