This is what Mariska Hargitay, the actress who plays Olivia Benson on ‘Law & Order: SVU’, looks like now

Mariska Hargitay is one of the few actresses who can boast a long and steady television career. For more than 25 years, she has portrayed Detective Olivia Benson on NBC’s crime drama Law & Order: SVU. She first took on the role at age 35 and is now in her early 60s.

Hargitay was born in Santa Monica, California, on January 23, 1964, and turns 62 this year. In addition to acting, she is a producer and philanthropist. She is widely recognized for her activism, especially through the Joyful Heart Foundation, which supports survivors of sexual abuse.

Before pursuing acting, Hargitay competed in beauty pageants. In 1982, she was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA and later placed fourth in the Miss California USA competition. She began her career with small roles in television series, but in 1999 she landed the role that would change her life: Detective Olivia Benson.

Her performance earned her an Emmy Award in 2006 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, as well as a Golden Globe in 2005 for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series. This is how Mariska Hargitay looked during the first season of Law & Order: SVU.

This is what Mariska Hargitay looks like today, 25 years after the premiere of Law & Order: SVU

Mariska Hargitay has portrayed Detective Olivia Benson from 1999 to the present. Season 27 premiered in September 2025 and continues this year. Her extensive run on the series has made her one of the highest paid actresses on television.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, a website that estimates celebrity wealth, Hargitay currently earns $500,000 per episode of Law & Order: SVU. In a typical 22-episode season, that amounts to $11 million per year in base salary before royalties. With additional bonuses and benefits, she earns between $13 million and $15 million annually from the show alone.

Beyond her nominations and awards, Hargitay received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013. In 2018, she produced the documentary I Am Evidence, which won Best Documentary at the 40th News and Documentary Emmy Awards.

Since 2004, Hargitay has been married to actor Peter Hermann, whom she met on the set of Law & Order: SVU. In 2006, they welcomed their first child, August. In 2011, they adopted a daughter, Amaya, and a son, Andrew. This is what Mariska Hargitay looks like today, 25 years after the debut of Law & Order: SVU.

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