Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Magdolina Hargitay, born January 23, 1964 in Los Angeles, California, United States, is an actress.

She is the youngest daughter of screen legend Jayne Mansfield and the Hungarian-born former Mr. Universe, Mickey Hargitay. In June of 1967 she was only three years old when she and her two brothers were asleep in the back seat of a car when it smashed into the back of a trailer transport truck instantly killing her mother the driver and another passenger. Miraculously, the three children escaped with minor bruises but Mariska was left with a zig-zag scar down the side of her head.

Mariska Hargitay majored in theatre at UCLA and began her acting career by appearing on the television series, Falcon Crest in 1981. She learned her father's native language, Hungarian, but also speaks fluent French, English, and Italian.

She is best known as Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.