Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Magdolna Hargitay (; born January 23, 1964) is an American actress, philanthropist, producer, and director. Hargitay has played Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999; Benson is the longest-running character of all time in an American primetime drama. Hargitay has won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of Benson. Hargitay was born in Santa Monica, California and is a daughter of actress Jayne Mansfield. She attended Marymount High School in Los Angeles and enrolled in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, leaving before completing her degree to pursue acting. Her other credits include the series Falcon Crest and In the Heat of the Night (both 1988), Tequila and Bonetti (1992), Can't Hurry Love (1995–1996), and ER (1997–1998). In 2013, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Outside of acting, Hargitay co-produced the HBO documentary I Am Evidence (2017), winning a News and Documentary Emmy for the project. In 2025, she launched the production company Mighty Entertainment, under which she directed the documentary My Mom Jayne (2025). Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to people who have been sexually abused. She is a certified rape counselor and has engaged in initiatives to support domestic violence shelters and raise awareness about untested rape kits.