Mariska Hargitay proves she's the real Olivia Benson

Mariska Hargitay She played the role of Olivia Benson Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Since 1999, the character has bled into her real life over the years.

“It's deep within me,” Hargitay said of her character during a 2017 interview with The Stars. and! news. “I was saying a few days ago, I no longer know where Mariska ends and Olivia begins. They've become so intertwined and intertwined, and I think that's a good thing.”

Fans of the series have watched Olivia rise through the ranks from detective to leader of Manhattan's Special Victims Unit. In real life, the actress played a role as an advocate for survivors of sexual violence. In January 2024, Hargitay wrote a powerful essay in which she revealed that she had also survived being raped by a friend in her 30s.

“This is a painful part of my story. The experience was horrific,” she wrote at the time. “But it doesn’t come close to defining me, in the same way that no other part of my story defines me. There is no single part of anyone's story that defines them.

Keep scrolling to see Hargitay take on the role of Benson in real life:

Establishing a joyful heart

Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 to raise awareness for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. The actress referred to the charity as a “response” to survivors when she spoke at the conference Hope Foundation for Depression Research 18th Annual Hope Luncheon Symposium in November 2024.

Being there for the lost child

In April 2024, Hargitay was filming SVU At Anne Loftus Stadium in Fort Tryon Park in New York City when a young girl, who appeared to be alone, ran toward the actress. The situation led to production on the show being halted, According to various reports At the time, however, Hargitay helped find the child's mother.

Helping real-life sexual assault cases

Prosecutor Kim deserves it find out More than 11,000 untested rape kits In the police department's evidence room, Hargitay funded her mission to continue the investigation. This was revealed in an August 2024 episode of the “Dateline True Crime Weekly” podcast.

“She (Mariska) helped them raise money to get this done, and it had a ripple effect across the country,” the podcast host Andrea Canning common at that time. “It's making changes everywhere, from police departments to prosecutors' offices.”

Assisting pedestrians during the interview

In November 2024, Hargitay proves that her on-screen cop training can come in handy in real-life situations. She was being interviewed on NBC Willy Ghost New York City, according to A Page six Report at the time, when the duo helped two disabled pedestrians cross the street.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call National Sexual Assault Hotline At 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).