Mariska Hargitay Biography

Mariska Hargitay is a renowned American actress, who is best-known for her role as the sex crimes detective, ‘Olivia Benson’ in the NBC hit series, ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’. She has earned several important nominations and also won a number of awards for her portrayal of the character; a character that managed to gather a cult following. With acting in her blood, Hargitay’s success in films came early in life when she debuted in the film ‘Ghoulies’. After giving a memorable performance in this film, she appeared in a recurring role in the top-rated show, ‘ER’, before being cast as ‘Olivia Benson’. A strong, competitive actress, Hargitay was also insistent on working hard for whatever roles she chose to do in her life and stressed on doing her own stunt-work for films. Unlike her mother, who had established herself as a ‘sex-symbol’ and a former ‘Playboy Playmate’ in the United States, Hargitay opted for a slightly different approach on her course of becoming a star. She refused to follow her mother’s footsteps and was confident that the acting classes she took would land her extraordinary roles in her career; and so it did. Acting aside, she is also the founder of the ‘Joyful Heart Foundation’, which provides aid and support to sexually abused women and children.