Born on January 23, 1964, Mariska Hargitay is the daughter of Hollywood legends Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay. Growing up in a family of actors, Hargitay was exposed to the world of entertainment from a young age. She began her career in the 1980s, landing small roles on TV shows and films. However, it wasn't until she landed the role of Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU in 1999 that her career took off.