Be Safe

Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a safer computer, call your local hotline, and/or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE (7233) or TTY 1−800−787−3224

Share Your Voice

Share your story of survival and hope with our community. Leave a comment on a post or learn how you can become part of our blogging community.

Read our Community Guidelines

Mariska Hargitay

Emmy Award winner Mariska Hargitay stars as Olivia Benson, the committed and emotionally driven detective on Wolf Films/Universal Media Studio’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, now in its twelfth season.

The role has earned Hargitay seven consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Drama, with a win in 2006.  She also received the 2005 Golden Globe Award and Golden Globe nomination in 2009, five SAG Award nominations, and two Gracie Allen Awards for American Women in Radio and Television. 

“It’s gratifying to play such a complex character.  Olivia is not only an accomplished, street-smart cop, she’s also an empathetic woman who can respond emotionally to victims of terrible crimes without compromising her professionalism,” says Hargitay.

Hargitay is also known to NBC viewers for her recurring role on ER as Dr. Greene’s (Anthony Edwards) girlfriend Cynthia Hooper in the 1997-98 season of the top-rated show.  She gained notice as a cast regular in the sitcom Can’t Hurry Love with Nancy McKeon.  She also starred in the NBC drama, Prince Street.  Other television credits include guest roles on NBC’s Seinfeld, Ellen and Thirtysomething. Hargitay also appeared in the telefilms The Advocate’s Devil and Night Sins, as well as the Lifetime movie Plain Truth.

Her film credits include the thriller Lake Placid written by David E. Kelley and starring Bridget Fonda, the critically acclaimed Leaving Las Vegas, David Lynch’s Hotel Room, Bob Fosse’s Star 80, Michael Rymer’s Perfume and an appearance in Mike Myers’ The Love Guru.

Inspired by her role on Law&Order: SVU, Hargitay created the Joyful Heart Foundation, whose mission is to heal, educate, and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness surrounding these issues. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Hawaii, JHF offers healing, wellness and empowerment programs for survivors of abuse and the professionals who care for them. “Joyful Heart is about the courage to heal, and all of our programming is dedicated to honoring that brave decision,” says Hargitay.

Through Joyful Heart, Hargitay has used her voice to bring attention, funding, and new legislation to critical issues facing sexual and family violence survivors, working with the medical community, the criminal justice system and law enforcement. Most recently, she testified before Congress to urge lawmakers to address the backlog of untested rape kits in the US.

Hargitay has also lent her time and voice to other organizations such as Lee National Denim Day (one of the largest single-day fundraisers for breast cancer) for which she was the 2007 Ambassador, Autism Speaks, The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center, The Santa Monica Rape Crisis Center, The Girl Scouts of America, Project ALS, The James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness (JRI), Safe Horizon, and the Venice Family Clinic, the nation’s largest free health clinic. She has also appeared in national campaigns for NBC’s “The More You Know” and Got Milk.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Hargitay is the youngest daughter of screen legend Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay. Hargitay is married to actor Peter Hermann, who most recently appeared in Edge of Darkness and has a recurring role on SVU as attorney Trevor Langan. The couple has one son.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Media Studio and airs Wednesdays at 9:00p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Dick Wolf, Ted Kotcheff, Neal Baer and Peter Jankowski are executive producers; Arthur Forney, Dawn DeNoon, Jonathan Greene, Daniel Truly and Peter Leto are co-executive producers.