Mariska Hargitay: podcast appearances and interviews

Mariska Magdolna Hargitay, born on January 23, 1964, in Santa Monica, California, is an American actress, philanthropist, producer, and director. She is best known for her role as Olivia Benson on the NBC series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a character she has portrayed since 1999, making her the longest-running character of all time in an American primetime drama. Hargitay has earned accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her performance. She is the daughter of actress Jayne Mansfield and attended Marymount High School in Los Angeles before enrolling at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, though she left before completing her degree to pursue acting. Her career includes roles in television series such as Falcon Crest, In the Heat of the Night, Tequila and Bonetti, Can't Hurry Love, and ER. In 2013, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Beyond her acting career, Hargitay co-produced the HBO documentary I Am Evidence, which won a News and Documentary Emmy. She founded the production company Mighty Entertainment and directed the documentary My Mom Jayne. As a philanthropist, she established the Joyful Heart Foundation to support individuals who have experienced sexual abuse. She is a certified rape counselor and has been active in initiatives supporting domestic violence shelters and raising awareness about untested rape kits.