Career Timeline of Mariska Hargitay: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Mariska Hargitay made an impact.
Mariska Hargitay is an acclaimed American actress, producer, director, and philanthropist. She is best known for her role as Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999. This role has made her the longest-running character in American primetime drama history. She has received numerous accolades for her performance, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award. In 2013, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1984: Appearance in Music Video
In 1984, Mariska Hargitay appeared in Ronnie Milsap's music video for "She Loves My Car".
1986: Role in Downtown
In 1986, Mariska Hargitay said she never thought about doing television until she was offered a role on the one-hour adventure drama series Downtown.
1988: Role in Falcon Crest
In 1988, Mariska Hargitay had a recurring role as Carly Fixx in the soap opera Falcon Crest.
1991: Role in Strawberry Road
In 1991, Mariska Hargitay played Jill Banner in the Japanese-American co-production Strawberry Road.
1992: Role in Tequila and Bonetti
In 1992, Mariska Hargitay appeared in the series Tequila and Bonetti.
1995: Can't Hurry Love Role
From 1995 to 1996, Mariska Hargitay starred in Can't Hurry Love.
1995: Role in Can't Hurry Love
In 1995, Mariska Hargitay portrayed Didi Edelstein in the sitcom Can't Hurry Love.
1996: Can't Hurry Love Role
From 1995 to 1996, Mariska Hargitay starred in Can't Hurry Love.
1997: Roles in Prince Street and ER
In 1997, Mariska Hargitay played detective Nina Echeverria on the drama series Prince Street and had a recurring role in ER.
1999: Starring in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
In 1999, Mariska Hargitay began starring as Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
1999: Portrayal of Olivia Benson begins
Since 1999, Mariska Hargitay has portrayed Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
2004: Establishment of Joyful Heart Foundation
In 2004, Mariska Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation to support survivors of various forms of abuse.
2004: Certified Rape Counselor
In 2004, it was reported that Mariska Hargitay is a certified rape counselor.
2005: Voice Acting in True Crime: New York City
In 2005, Mariska Hargitay's voice was featured on the video game True Crime: New York City.
2006: Public Service Announcements
In 2006, Mariska Hargitay appeared in the 17th season of NBC's The More You Know public service announcements.
2006: Maternity Leave from SVU
In 2006, during the last months of her pregnancy, Mariska Hargitay took maternity leave from SVU and was temporarily replaced by Connie Nielsen.
January 2007: Got Milk? Advertisement
In January 2007, Mariska Hargitay and her older son appeared in a Got Milk? advertisement.
May 2009: Contract Expiration
In May 2009, after the show's tenth season, Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni's contracts expired.
November 2009: Building Wellness Kits
In November 2009, Mariska Hargitay and the Joyful Heart Foundation built healing and wellness kits for women in domestic violence shelters in Los Angeles County.
November 2010: Therapeutic Programs
As of November 2010, the Joyful Heart Foundation had sent over 5,000 women and children on therapeutic programs.
April 2011: Foundation Funding
According to Hargitay, as of April 2011, the Joyful Heart Foundation had raised $20 million.
September 27, 2011: Donation to UCLA
On September 27, 2011, Mariska Hargitay donated $100,000 to the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television for scholarships.
August 2012: Earnings Per Episode
As of August 2012, Mariska Hargitay was earning approximately $400,000–$500,000 per episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
2012: Campaign for VAWA Reauthorization
In 2012, Mariska Hargitay campaigned for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
2014: Highest-Paid Television Actress Ranking
In 2014, Forbes ranked Mariska Hargitay as the second-highest-paid television actress.
2015: MTV Video Music Award
At the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, Mariska Hargitay shared the "Video of the Year" Award with Taylor Swift and other celebrities for appearing in Swift's song "Bad Blood".
2017: Co-Production of 'I Am Evidence'
In 2017, Mariska Hargitay co-produced the HBO documentary 'I Am Evidence', which later won a News and Documentary Emmy.
2018: Release of I Am Evidence Documentary
In 2018, Mariska Hargitay produced a documentary, I Am Evidence, which discusses untested rape kits and won Best Documentary at the 40th News and Documentary Emmy Awards.
2022: Guest Narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional
On December 19 and 20, 2022, Mariska Hargitay was a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional.
2024: Forbes Ranking
In 2025, Forbes named Mariska Hargitay as the 11th highest-paid actor of 2024, the 2nd highest-paid actress, and the highest-paid actor on television, earning an estimated $750,000 per episode.
2024: Essay in People
In a 2024 essay for People, Mariska Hargitay advocated for ending the stigma surrounding sexual assault survivors, calling for the same celebration given to cancer survivors.
June 2025: Release of My Mom Jayne
In June 2025, Mariska Hargitay's feature film directorial debut, My Mom Jayne, was released in the United States.
2025: Forbes Ranking
In 2025, Forbes named Mariska Hargitay as the 11th highest-paid actor of 2024, the 2nd highest-paid actress, and the highest-paid actor on television, earning an estimated $750,000 per episode.
2025: Launch of Mighty Entertainment
In 2025, Mariska Hargitay launched the production company Mighty Entertainment and directed the documentary My Mom Jayne under the company.
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