Mariska Hargitay is an actress and philanthropist best known for portraying Olivia Benson in the NBC police drama "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," the longest running live-action primetime drama in history.

Hargitay's portrayal of Olivia Benson has earned her an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Gracie Allen Award from The Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television, just to name a few accolades. Hargitay is also known to NBC viewers for her recurring role on "ER" as Dr. Greene's girlfriend Cynthia Hooper in the 1997-98 season of the top-rated show. She gained notice as a cast regular in the sitcom "Can't Hurry Love" with Nancy McKeon and Louis Mandylor.

In 2004, Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors’ healing, and end this violence forever. Her dedication to providing assistance to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse survivors speaks to her depth of character and generosity of spirit. Committed to ending violence and abuse, and caring for those who have survived it, Hargitay spends as much time off screen dealing with these crimes as she does while busting perps through her role as Olivia Benson.

Hargitay has been a part of multiple education and awareness campaigns linked to issues related to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. She has made public service announcements to end the rape kit backlog in the United States, pass critical legislation to bring healing and justice to survivors, prevent child abuse and neglect and engage men to end violence and abuse. She has also filmed PSAs with NBC's "The More You Know" campaigns and Got Milk and has lent her time and voice to other victim assistance organizations in hopes of raising awareness and much needed financial support for their programs. In 2017, Hargitay testified on behalf of rape survivors and victims of sexual assault and abuse in front of Congress.

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