Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay is an American actress and the founder and president of Joyful Heart Foundation. Mariska is best known for her role as NYPD Special Victims Unit Detective/Sergeant/Lieutenant Olivia Benson on the NBC drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, for which she has earned multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe. She made her film debut in the 1985 horror-comedy film Ghoulies and her major television debut in the 1986 adventure drama series Downtown. She appeared in numerous roles in film and television shows throughout the late 1980s and 1990s before being cast as Olivia Benson. Mariska Magdolna Hargitay is the daughter of bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay and actress Jayne Mansfield.