Although Mariska Hargitay and Kelli Giddish no longer share the screen full-time on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the two real-life friends recently reunited for a noble cause, and it looks like they had an incredible time doing it!
On Sunday, July 14, Hargitay and Giddish came together to support the Joyful Heart Foundation, which Hargitay founded in 2004. Actress Ali Wentworth, Hargitay’s best friend, captured the heartwarming moment with an adorable photo on Instagram. The SVU stars looked better than ever as they joined forces for this meaningful event.
“We came. She talked. We walked. We support survivors! @thejhf #sisterhood #wewalkthewalk #beachwalk,” Wentworth captioned the photo.
The trio walked in support of the Joyful Heart Foundation’s powerful mission: to raise awareness and transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.
“❤️you certainly do walk the walk ❤️,” Hargitay commented sweetly after the photo was posted.
While it’s not the same as seeing Olivia Benson and Amanda Rollins together on SVU, fans were thrilled to see the stars reunite for such a worthy cause. Their last shared scene was in Season 24, Episode 9, “And a Trauma in a Pear Tree,” where Rollins got married, with Benson standing by as a witness.
Mariska Hargitay’s Best Friend Ali Wentworth Guest-Starred on SVU
Hargitay and Wentworth have been best friends for decades, with Wentworth even baking the SVU star’s birthday cake every year. Naturally, Wentworth also made an appearance on SVU. She guest-starred in Season 17, Episode 8’s “Melancholy Pursuit” as “Lady in the Park.” The two were spotted filming together on a chilly NYC day.
In 2021, while guest-hosting Live with Kelly and Ryan, Wentworth shared a hilarious story about hiking with Hargitay in Tennessee, where they encountered a black bear. Wentworth described her reaction: “I had a complete personality disorder with the bear… He literally looked at me like, ‘You’re a crazy person’ and kept going.”
Wentworth humorously recounted how she kept urging Hargitay to “fight the bear” like her on-screen character Olivia Benson. Eventually, an elderly couple rescued them, driving them back to safety.
Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation
Hargitay was inspired to start the Joyful Heart Foundation after researching for her role on SVU. She realized her platform could extend beyond the screen. On the JHF website, Hargitay explained her motivation:
“I felt a great responsibility to these brave women and men and wanted them to know that they had been heard and that they could have hope. I trained to become a crisis counselor and used my visibility as an actress to become an advocate. I wanted to play a role in healing that pain, ending the isolation, and honoring the great courage survivors were showing by reaching out for help.”
Founded in 2004, the Joyful Heart Foundation helps survivors of sexual assault heal their minds, bodies, and spirits. The pursuit of justice, Hargitay believes, is integral to that healing. Despite significant progress, she acknowledges that addressing these issues takes courage.
“As a society, we must risk talking about them,” Hargitay says. “I am proud to stand with survivors, advocates, and members of the criminal justice community to send a powerful message: ‘We hear you. You have suffered enough. Your healing—and pursuit of justice—are our priorities.'”
Hargitay’s dedication to her on-screen role as Benson is mirrored in her real-life advocacy, drawing fans to her both on and off the screen. It’s reassuring to know that the compassion she portrays as Benson is just as genuine when the cameras stop rolling.
