Law and Order
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Mariska Magdolna Hargitay is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American actress best known for her role as Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Hargitay made appearances in the Law & Order episodes "Entitled", "Fools For Love", and "Flaw". She also appeared in the Law & Order: Trial by Jury episode "Day".

Hargitay won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Olivia Benson in the category Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2006. She was nominated for the same award in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

In 2005 Hargitay won a Golden Globe. She was the first woman ever from the Law & Order franchise to receive award nominations and wins.

On 7 November 2013 Hargitay received the 2511th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next to her mother's, Jayne Mansfield, star (Location: 6328 Hollywood Blvd)

On 28 August 2004 Hargitay married Peter Hermann, an actor and writer who has often appeared on Special Victims Unit as Defense Attorney Trevor Langan. On 28 June 2006, Hargitay gave birth to August Miklos Friedrich Hermann. During the last months of her pregnancy, she took maternity leave from Special Victims Unit, and was temporarily replaced by Connie Nielsen.

Hargitay's father, Mickey, appeared in the Special Victims Unit episode "Control".

As a token of their friendship, SVU co-star Christopher Meloni made Hargitay the godmother of his daughter Sophia.

Trivia

  • Is the daughter of late actress Jayne Mansfield and late actor/bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay.
  • Has two brothers: Miklós and Zoltán Hargitay, two half sisters: Jayne Marie Mansfield and Tina Hargitay, and a half-brother, Antonio Ottaviano (now known as Tony Cimber)
  • Was in the car which crashed in New Orleans and killed her mother, Jayne Mansfield; has a zig-zag scar on one side of her head.
  • Attended Marymount High School and the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television
  • Was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA in 1982.
  • Speaks English, Hungarian, French, Spanish, and Italian
  • Married Peter Hermann (who plays defense attorney Trevor Langan on SVU) on August 28, 2004. Has a son August Miklos Friedrich Hermann (born on June 26, 2006). Adopted daughter Amaya Josephine in April of 2011.
  • Is the founder/president of the Joyful Heart Association which provides support to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.
  • An honorary board member director of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Her father, Mickey Hargitay passed away from the disease in September of 2006



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