Mariska (Ma-rish-ka) Magdolna Hargitay was born on January 23, 1964, in Santa Monica, California. Her parents are Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield. She is the youngest of their three children. In June 1967, Mariska and her brothers Zoltan and Mickey Jr. were in the back seat of a car when it was involved in the fatal accident which killed her mother. The children escaped with minor injuries.

Mariska majored in theater at UCLA but dropped out before graduating. Her first motion picture feature was the cult favorite, Ghoulies, where she gave a memorable performance as Donna. She also appeared in Leaving Las Vegas, credited as 'Hooker at the bar', and in Lake Placid as Myra Okubo. Her latest movie, Plain Truth, in which she plays attorney Ellie Harrison will air in the fall of 2004.

In 1999 she was cast in the role of Det. Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the first spinoff from the excellent franchise of Law & Order (which also has two other spinoffs, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Trial by Jury). This show deals with sex crimes and the detectives who solve these cases.

Mariska speaks English, Hungarian, French and Italian. She married actor Peter Hermann on August 28, 2004. They divide their time between New York and Los Angeles.
Daughter of Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay; sister of Zoltan Hargitay (b. 1 August 1960) and (Miklos) Mickey Hargitay Jr. (b. 21 December 1958). Half-sister of Jayne Marie Mansfield (Jayne's daughter from her first marriage, b. 8 November 1950),Antonio Raphael Ottaviano Cimber a.k.a. Tony Cimber (from her mother's third marriage,b. 18 October 1965), and of Tina Hargitay (from her father's first marriage, b.1949). Replaced Gabrielle Fitzpatrick in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie as Dulcea, but her scenes were re-shot with Gabrielle Fitzpatrick returning as Dulcea. Speaks French, English, Hungarian, Spanish and Italian. In June 1967 she and her two brothers were asleep in the back seat of a car when it smashed into the back of a trailer truck instantly killing her mother (Jayne Mansfield), the driver and Mansfield's boyfriend, attorney Sam Brody. Miraculously, the three children escaped with minor bruises. Majored in theatre at UCLA, but quit shortly before graduating. Has a zig-zag scar down the side of her head from the 1967 crash that killed her mother, Jayne Mansfield. She was only three years old when she was involved in the crash and has no memory of the event. Won the Miss Beverly Hills 1982 pagent. Measurements: 36-24-36 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) Engaged to actor Peter Hermann. [April 2004] Became good friends with Maria Bello when she had a recurring role on ER in 1997-1998. Is of German/English & Hungarian descent. On one occasion, she came upon a pregnant woman who collapsed while in New York City. When no one else came to the woman's aid, she lapsed into her character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit while aiding the victim. One of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People (2005) She learned to swim at the age of two and later swam for her high school. Founder and President of a non-profit organization to aid the victims of rape - The Joyful Heart Foundation. Is half-sister of Tina Hargitay (b. 1949) through her father's first wife Mary Birge. Married Peter Hermann on August 28, 2004 at California's Unitarian Historical Chapel. First woman ever from the Law and Order franchise to receive award nominations and wins. Gave birth, via C-section to her first child, a son, August Miklos Friedrich Hermann (10 lb., 9oz.), on June 28, 2006 at 3:21PM. One of People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People (2006) Her father Mickey Hargitay died after a lengthy illness at the age of 80. [14th September 2006] Following the family's acting lineage, Mariska has a cousin whom is actor Eddie Hargitay. Spoke in 2007 for Girl Scouts of Greater New York Scholars Program about her career and how she became who she is.