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Mariska Hargitay is the staple of the show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. As a female officer whose role is to work with special victims of heinous crimes, the material is often intense, and she has really become attached to helping real life victims of such crimes, outside of her role on television. Hargitay's long-term dedication to the show has led her to her current net worth of $100 million, and she is considered to be among the highest paid women on television. Fandom reports that as a young actress, Hargitay appeared in a series of other productions and shows before appearing on Law & Order SVU in 1999. Every step she took led her to this role which has truly defined both her personal and professional life in ways she could have never imagined.
Famous Family
Mariska Hargitay is famous in her own right, but what many fans don't know is that she also comes from a famous family, as well. Her parents were the late Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay, and they were both very well known for their respective talents. Nicki Swift reports that her mom starred in a series of films and was a Playboy playmate. Her father was also an actor and was even more famous for being a bodybuilder. Her parents have even starred in some movies alongside one another, including Promises! Promises! and The Love of Hercules. A career in the world of entertainment seems to have been in Mariska Hargitay's genes.
Childhood Trauma
Mariska Hargitay's childhood was marred with unimaginable trauma, and living through the heart-wrenching struggles that she was confronted with have formed her into the strong, tenacious woman that the world knows today. Sadly, when she was just 3 years old, Mariska was asleep in the back seat of a car, alongside her two brothers, when they were involved in a crash. Her mother, and 2 other adult passengers were killed in the devastating crash, and miraculously, the children all survived.
Mariska was so incredibly young at the time of this incident that she doesn't have a conscious recollection of it, but she definitely grew up with the significant void of not having her mother by her side. From a very young age, she grew up with the perception that life was hard and she just had to keep on going, so she did... and she kept trying at her acting career until she finally landed the role that she instantly knew was 'meant to be.'
Bit Parts
Mariska Hargitay worked towards her acting career with small, bit parts in a variety of different productions. She won the Miss Beverly Hills beauty pageant in 1982, and her television debut came during an episode of Falcon Crest in 1984. She went on to appear in a feature film called Ghoulies that same year and dropped out of UCLA in pursuit of her acting dreams. After a series of auditions for different roles, she came across the Law & Order SVU and instantly knew that she was meant to play the role of Olivia Benson.
Now, 22 years later, as she continues to walk in the shoes of Olivia Benson on the set of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the entire world is in complete agreement.
Law And Order: Special Victims Unit
Playing the role of Olivia Benson has truly changed everything about Mariska Hargitay's life.
From a financial stand point, she went from being in debt to the tune of 6 figures, to being worth a cool $100 million. That didn't come without a whole lot of hard work and dedication.
Hargitay committed to the role and truly threw herself into everything that Olivia Benson embodies. Her dedication to her on-screen character saw her emerge as one of the leading actresses on television and her pay structure was reflective of her efforts.
Mastering Her Domain
Yahoo Movies reports that Hargitay worked her way up to earning just over $540,000 per episode, and then went on to also earn syndication royalties and bonuses. As a permanent fixture on the set of the show, she also began to hone in her skills in a different direction and began to expand her skill set even further. "She's also had a number of other roles during her acting career as well as stints as a producer and director."
Fandom confirms that she "directed seven episodes for the series: Criminal Stories, Padre Sandungeuro, A Misunderstanding, Sheltered Outcasts, Motherly Love, Mea Culpa, and She Paints For Vengeance.
Accolades
Hargitay has been recognized and honored for her dedication and has received a number of accolades for her hard work. Yahoo Movies reports "She 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."
She went on to win a Golden Globe in 2015, making her the first woman from the Law & Order franchise to be nominated as well as of course, the first to win.
Playing Olivia Benson has led to her fans connecting to her on a deeply personal level, and flooding the studio with letters about their real-life encounters with crime and abuse. She has truly been affected by the meaningful way in which her fan base has resonated with her character, and has taken action to assist special victims in real life, and not just on television.
Truly Embracing Olivia Benson
Truly embracing and embodying the role of Olivia Benson, Mariska wanted to extend herself to the fans that had reached out to her for help. In 2004, she launched a nonprofit foundation called Joyful Heart, that helps sexual assault victims, those suffering from domestic violence, and all victims requiring healing and support after a serious incident.
She continues to support those in need through her foundation, and invests her own money earned from her time on the show, to maintain and continue developing the organization.
Sources: Yahoo Movies,Nicki Swift,Fandom
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