Mariska Hargitay
Also known as Bubbles, Mackie, Maria, Marish, Mariska Magdolna Hargitay
Career
Active 1984 – present
Biography
About Mariska Hargitay
Her father was Mickey Hargitay, a Hungarian-born bodybuilder and actor, and her mother was Jayne Mansfield, a film star. Mariska grew up with a foot in two worlds: Hollywood glamour and her father's athletic discipline. She entered the entertainment business in 1984, appearing in Ronnie Milsap's music video "She Loves My Car," and soon after landed a role in the horror comedy Ghoulies (1985). By the late 1980s she was a regular on the crime drama Downtown (1986) and had a recurring part in Falcon Crest (1988). Through the 1990s she kept working steadily, including a stint on ER as Cynthia Hooper from 1997 to 1998.
Everything changed in 1999 when she was cast as Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. That role made her a household name. She has played Benson for more than two decades and has also appeared in the spinoff Law & Order: Organized Crime since 2021. Her performance has earned her a Golden Globe Award, two People's Choice Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Off screen, Mariska founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization that supports survivors of sexual abuse. She is also a director, producer, and influencer with a substantial Instagram following. At 62, she remains one of television's most recognized actresses. She is American, born in Santa Monica, California, of Caucasian ethnicity. She stands 5'7" tall with an average body type, black hair, and brown eyes. Her measurements are 36–24–36, and she has a natural 34C bra cup. She has been active in the industry since 1984, making her one of the longest-running performers in prime-time drama.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Years Active
- 1984-present (started around 20 years old; 42 years active)
- Birthplace
- Santa Monica, California, United States
- Ethnicity
- Caucasian
- Sexuality
- Straight
Body
- Hair Color
- Black
- Eye Color
- Brown
- Weight
- 145 lbs (or 66 kg)
- Measurements
- 36–24–36 (B–W–H) · WHR 0.67
- Bra/Cup Size
- 34C show conversions - UK: 34C, EU: 75C, AU: 12C, JP: 75C
- Boobs
- Real/Natural
Performances
- Solo
- Nudity (Topless Only)
Extra
- Instagram Followers
- 3.6m (as of May 2026)
Frequently asked
Who are Mariska Hargitay's parents?
She is the daughter of actor Mickey Hargitay, a Hungarian-born bodybuilder, and actress Jayne Mansfield.
What is Mariska Hargitay's most famous role?
She has played Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999, a role that earned her a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe.
What has she done outside of acting?
She founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to survivors of sexual abuse.
When did she start acting?
She began in 1984 with a music video appearance and has been active in television and film ever since.
Did you know
- She is the daughter of two Hollywood legends: Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield.
- She has played the same character, Olivia Benson, for over two decades on Law & Order: SVU.
- She founded the Joyful Heart Foundation to help sexual abuse survivors.
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