Mariska Hargitay - Joyful Heart Foundation

http://www.mariska.com/about/

http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/

Mariska Hargitay headlines the NBC crime drama "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," now in its seventh season, as the unit's veteran detective Olivia Benson. Her portrayal of Detective Benson won her the 2005 Golden Globe for Lead Actress in a Drama Series, as well as nominations for an Emmy and a SAG Award in 2004 and 2005. Mariska's many other honors include nominations in the show's freshman season (1999-2000) for Best Actress by the Viewers of Quality Television, for Favorite Actress in a New Series by the TV Guide Awards, and for Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series by the International Press Academy. She is also the recipient of the 2004 Gracie Allen Award for Individual Achievement for Best Female Lead Actress in a Drama Series on behalf of American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT)."As a woman," says Mariska, "it's gratifying to play a part that's a multi-layered challenge. Olivia is not only a competent, street-smart cop, she's an empathetic woman who can respond compassionately to victims of terrible crimes without compromising her professionalism."Mariska's work on SVU has prompted her to help real-life survivors of sexual assault. In 2002, she founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, which is dedicated to introducing dolphin-human therapy to survivors of sexual assault. Working hand in hand with rape-crisis centers and counselors, the Joyful Heart Foundation synthesizes all of the components of the healing process (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, social and environmental) into one therapeutic experience.Mariska sits on the board of the Mount Sinai SAVI (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention) program and has done public service announcements for NBC's "The More You Know" campaign, as well as for Safe Horizons, a national advocacy program for victims of crime and abuse. She has also lent her time and resources to many other worthy organizations, such as the Santa Monica Rape Crisis Treatment Center; Project ALS; the Girl Scouts of America, for whom she gave talks for young women; and the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness (JRI), for which she hosted the 2003 event "An Evening of Music, Laughter, Inspiration and Awareness" in Los Angeles.Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mariska is the youngest daughter of screen legend Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay. Mariska is married to actor Peter Hermann and lives in New York City. She and Peter are expecting their first child in the Summer of 2006.