Mariska Hargitay is an acclaimed American actress best known for her iconic portrayal of Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Born on January 23, 1964, in Santa Monica, California, she is the daughter of actress Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay. After studying theatre at UCLA, she began her career with small television and film roles in the 1980s.
Her breakthrough came in 1999 when she was cast as Olivia Benson, becoming the longest-running character in the Law & Order franchise. Hargitay has earned a Primetime Emmy, a Golden Globe, and multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards for her performance. Beyond acting, she founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 to support survivors of sexual assault and advocate for legislative change.
In her personal life, Hargitay has been married to actor Peter Hermann since 2004, and they have three children. She is widely admired for her professionalism and dedication to social causes.
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