Show Notes

Mariska Hargitay has played Captain Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU for 26 years and counting. In 2024, Forbes named Hargitay the highest paid TV actor by a wide margin. But in 1999, she had been a struggling actor for decades, landing only a handful of substantial roles. She turned 35 and decided to leave Los Angeles. Then she got a call about an audition – for a “dark” New York-based show called “Sex Crimes.”

Major sources for this episode include:

SAG-AFTRA Foundation: “Mariska Hargitay Career Retrospective | Conversations at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation”

Podcast: Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist: “Mariska Hargitay

The Washington Post: “The Icon’s Daughter”

 on 26 Seasons as “Olivia Benson” and Her Character’s Impact”

NBC: “Look Back at Mariska Hargitay’s Acting Credits Besides Law & Order: SVU”

Writer & Host: Sidney Hirst-O’Reilly

Executive Producer & Co-Host: Terry O’Reilly

Researcher & Series Producer: Allison Pinches

Director: Callie O’Reilly

Supervising Producer: Debbie O’Reilly

Engineer: Geoff Devine

Theme music: James Atin, Casey Pick & Jeremiah Pick

Tunes: APM Music