Mariska Hargitay Then & Now: Photos of the ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Star From Her Young Days to Today

Mariska Hargitay has been playing Det. Olivia Benson for over two decades. See all her best photos over the years, right here.

Mariska Hargitay is a beloved TV actress, known for her longtime part at Det. Olivia Benson in the Law & Order franchise. Born on January 23, 1964, she was the daughter of bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay and actress Jayne Mansfield.

Mariska first appeared on screen in the 1985 horror comedy Ghoulies. Her major television debut was 1986’s Downtown. After working steadily during the 80s and 90s, the star landed her breakout role as Det. Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 1999. The show is still on TV to this day, making it one of the longest-running primetime series in history.

Her work on SVU inspired her to create the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to people who have been sexually abused. The star has been married to Peter Hermann since 2004 and the pair have three children. For more photos of Mariska, check out our gallery here.