Broadway BUZZ

Mariska Hargitay, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress, producer, and director, is best known for her iconic role as Captain Olivia Benson on NBC’s Law & Order: SVU. In addition to starring on the show—the longest-running primetime live-action series in U.S. television history—she also serves as an executive producer and director. In 2004, Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to transforming society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. At the heart of Joyful Heart’s mission is the End the Backlog campaign, which seeks to eliminate the nationwide backlog of untested rape kits and advocate for comprehensive reform. Joyful Heart is also crafting a framework to address the image-based abuse crisis, as well as providing support for those who serve survivors with the revolutionary “Heal the Healers” Grantmaking Program. Hargitay’s advocacy extends to her work as a filmmaker. She produced the Emmy-winning HBO documentary I Am Evidence, which investigates the systemic failure to process tens of thousands of rape kits across the U.S.—and the profound consequences for survivors and justice. In recognition of her work on behalf of survivors, she was named to the Time100 Philanthropy list in 2025, honoring the most influential people shaping the future of giving. She also co-produced EMANUEL, a documentary about the 2015 Charleston church shooting, and My Beautiful Stutter, about a summer camp where young people who stutter find strength in community. In 2025, she launched her production company, Mighty Entertainment, debuting with the critically acclaimed documentary My Mom Jayne, an exploration of the life and legacy of her mother, Jayne Mansfield. After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the film earned Best First Documentary Feature at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, was named a New York Times Critics Pick and has since earned widespread praise for its emotional depth, honesty, and grace. Through her work as an actress, activist, and filmmaker, Mariska Hargitay continues to use her voice and platform to uplift survivors and drive cultural change. Whether bringing Olivia Benson’s fierce compassion to the screen or shaping narratives behind the scenes, she is a force for good in both entertainment and social justice.