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Mariska Magdolina Hargitay (pronounced "mah-RISH-kah") is a Golden Globe-winning
American actress best known for her role as Detective Olivia Benson on Law &
Order: Special Victims Unit.
Born on January 23, 1964, she is the fourth of Jayne Mansfield's five
children. Mansfield had divorced Hungarian-born former Mr. Universe Mickey
Hargitay (and would again in 1964), yet they were living together when
Mariska was born.
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OOn the night of June 29, 1967, Hargitay and two of her brothers were asleep
in the back seat of the car their mother and her boyfriend, lawyer Sam Brody,
were riding in when it smashed into the back of a tractor-trailer. Mansfield,
Brody, and their driver were killed instantly. Had the children not been
lying down, they, too, would have been killed. But, miraculously, they
escaped with minor bruises. Hargitay, who has no memory of the accident, was
left with a zig-zag scar down the side of her head.
Hargitay majored in theatre at UCLA and began her acting career by appearing
on the television series Falcon Crest in 1987. She learned her father's
native language, Hungarian, but also speaks fluent French and Italian.
In April 2004, she announced her engagement to Special Victims Unit actor
Peter Hermann. They were married on August 28, 2004 in California.
In 2005 she used her voice for the video game True Crime: Streets of New
York.
On November 30, 2005, Hargitay's publicist announced that she and Hermann
are expecting their first child, a son. Speaking about her pregnancy,
Hargitay said, "I'm LOVING every minute of it and am so excited to be a
mom."
In SVU's freshman season, in 1999-2000, Hargitay earned nominations from the
Viewers for Quality Television for Best Actress, from the TV Guide Awards
for Favorite Actress in a New Series and from the International Press
Academy for Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series. She was also
2004 SAG Nominee.
Hargitay won a Golden Globe in 2005 in the category of Best Actress in a
Drama Series. Her father and husband both attended the ceremony. She
dedicated the award to her mother.
In 2004 and 2005, Hargitay's portrayal of Detective Benson on Law and Order:
Special Victims Unit garnered her Emmy nominations in the category of
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Hargitay was named one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in
2005. |
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MARISKA HARGITAY PICTURES |
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MOST POPULAR
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ADDITIONS
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