The big picture
- Mariska Hargitay raised money to test 11,000 rape kits, which led to 22 serial rapists being brought to justice.
- Her portrayal of Olivia Benson translated to real life as she helped reunite a lost child with his family on set.
- The new season of
Law and Order: SVU
will premiere on NBC on October 3
After more than a quarter of a century as a police officer, Mariska Hargitay continues to advocate for real victims. Date line The Andrea Canningwent to the Today Show in which the latest episode of Dateline: Weekly true crime magazine. At that time, Canning said, Hargitay helped a Michigan prosecutor Thousands of cases of sexual assault.
It happened like this: Michigan Attorney General Kym Worthy discovered that there were 11,000 untested rape kits in an evidence cabinet. She took it upon herself to see that they were tested. Such testing, and on this scale, not only cost money, but a lot Money. This is where Hargitay comes in. “So who stepped in?” asks Canning. “Nobody other than law and order‘s Mariska Hargitay.”
Canning explains that Hargitay “helped them raise the money to do it.” Thanks to Hargitay’s efforts, Canning says, 22 serial rapists have been brought to justice. The work, Canning says, “is having ripple effects across the country, making changes everywhere — in police departments and prosecutors.”
Olivia Benson’s characteristics transfer to Mariska Hargitay’s real life
Just earlier this year, Harigtay was mistaken for a police officer while filming on location for a New York Police Department officer. Law and Order: Special Unit for Victims. While filming the final episodes of the current season, a witness told People that Hargitay was approached by a little girl who had been separated from her family. The little girl had thought Hargitay was a real police officer because she was dressed as Captain Olivia Benson.
Hargitay told People in January that after playing the character for so long (since the show began in 1999), she “had these moments where I kind of slipped into her. When there’s a crisis, I just take charge and I’m so strong and fearless.” When the little girl approached Hargitay, the actress had apparently stopped filming for 20 minutes just to reunite the girl with her family.
Law and Order: SVU was renewed for a 26th season earlier this year. The new season will premiere on NBC on October 3 and stream on Peacock the next day.
You can stream Law and Order: SVU on Peacock in the US.
Law and Order: Special Unit for Victims
- Release date
- 20 September 1999
- Seasons
- 21
- studio
- NBC
Watch on Peacock
