When a little girl couldn’t find her mother in a New York City park, she ran straight into Mariska Hargitay’s arms. Despite being in the middle of filming a scene for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Hargitay didn’t hesitate. She scooped up the child and began searching the playground for the missing mom, ignoring the waiting cast and crew.
Hargitay may not be NYPD Capt. Olivia Benson, but after 25 years of portraying her on the NBC procedural, their identities are intertwined. Benson’s compassion radiates from Hargitay, evident from our first meeting on the SVU set. Within a day, she had already asked me about my writing aspirations and TV favorites, even playfully scolding me for finding my first New York apartment on Craigslist. “I thought you said you watched ‘SVU’!” she exclaimed.
Dick Wolf created Olivia Benson, but Hargitay made her an icon. Longtime viewers still approach her after shooting, proclaiming their love for Olivia. “I feel like I have different kinds of fans because of the subject matter. They’re so loyal and protective, it feels personal,” Hargitay says. Viewers often share their own traumas with her, underscoring the show’s unique impact. “This show is such a unicorn,” she adds.
Hargitay didn’t realize this week marked another milestone: filming the 550th episode. At home, her husband, actor Peter Hermann, had painted “500” on their living room wall when the series hit that milestone. She proudly shows a photo of the mural on her iPhone, calling it “muscular, powerful, and strong.”
This year is significant for Hargitay, as she celebrates 25 seasons of “SVU,” 20 years of marriage, and her 60th birthday—“The new 25,” she jokes. “I really feel like I’m just getting started.”
Before becoming Benson, Hargitay had wrapped a 13-episode stint on “ER” and was eyeing comedy roles. But a pilot titled “Sex Crimes” changed everything. Her manager warned it might be too dark, but Hargitay knew immediately: “This is my show.”
She and Christopher Meloni, who played Elliot Stabler, had instant chemistry during their audition, impressing Dick Wolf. “Mariska and Chris looked like they had been working together for five years,” Wolf recalls. Hargitay’s portrayal of Benson reshaped how America thinks about sex crimes. “She’s America’s sexual-violence detective,” Wolf says, noting her unique status as a female icon on broadcast TV.
Hargitay believes the show resonated because the world needed an Olivia Benson—someone to advocate for survivors and believe victims. “The inception of the show was so genius that way, because Olivia was the loving mother that we all want and Stabler was the angry, protective father,” she explains.
Meloni and Hargitay bonded over their humor and work ethic, making filming seamless. Their honesty with each other strengthened their partnership.
In 1999, the same year “SVU” began, Hargitay became a rape crisis counselor, learning to advocate for victims and herself. Her father, actor Mickey Hargitay, taught her the importance of truth, a lesson reinforced by Wolf’s tough but supportive guidance. Their relationship, though sometimes challenging, has made her stronger.
Hargitay’s advocacy extends beyond the screen. In 2004, she founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, supporting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. The foundation also works to change society’s response to these crimes. Programs like End the Backlog and Heal the Healers aim to address systemic issues and support trauma professionals.
Her advocacy has had a profound impact. Robyn Mazur, the foundation’s executive director, praises Hargitay’s dedication. “Her decades of steadfast advocacy have truly changed how we all talk about these crimes,” Mazur says. Hargitay’s passion continues to drive the foundation’s work, inspiring change and support for survivors.
Hargitay’s journey on “SVU” has been transformative, both personally and professionally. As she continues to balance her roles as an actor, advocate, and mother, she remains a beacon of strength and compassion, much like Olivia Benson.
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