Mariska Hargitay
Biography
Mariska Hargitay is an American actress known for her long-running role as Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which she has played since 1999 and which became the longest-running character in American primetime television. Born in Santa Monica, California, she attended Marymount High School and later the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, stepping away before graduation to focus on acting. Her early screen credits include the horror film Ghoulies (1984) and roles on Falcon Crest and In the Heat of the Night in 1988, Tequila and Bonetti in 1992, Can't Hurry Love from 1995 to 1996, and ER from 1997 to 1998. She has earned three Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame honored her with a star in 2013. Beyond that series, she co-produced the HBO documentary I Am Evidence and directed My Mom Jayne (2025) through her production company Mighty Entertainment.
62years old
Turns 63 on January 23in 116 days
- Born Providence Saint John's Health Center
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Mariska Magdolna Hargitay (birth name)Also credited as Mariska Magdalena Hargitay
Movie Career
- Films
- 8
- Career span
- 41 years1984 to 2025
First and latest
Did you know?!
A role that slipped away
Hargitay was considered for Elaine Benes on Seinfeld before the show started. She later showed up in the two-part fourth season finale, where her character read for that same part in "The Pilot".
Mariska Hargitay movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Mariska Hargitay made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Christopher Lee's page
James Hong's page
Jeff Goldblum's page
Bill Pullman's page
Rutger Hauer's page
Brendan Gleeson's page
All films by Steve Miner
All films by Luca Bercovici
Mark DiSalleDirector, 1 film, 1991
All films by Mark DiSalle
Awards
Three awards and honors from 2004 to 2006, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | |||
| 2004 | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Won |
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 2006 | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.