Mariska Magdolna Hargitay is an American actress, producer, and director. She is best known for her role as NYPD Special Victims Unit DetectiveSergeantLieutenant Olivia Benson on the NBC drama series Law amp Order Special Victims Unit, for which she has earned multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe.
Hargitay was born at St. Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California, the daughter of actress and 1950sera sex symbol Jayne Mansfield. Her father was the Hungarianborn former Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay. Her first and middle names are Hungarian and refer to Mary Magdalene . Hargitay was raised Roman Catholic. She has two older brothers, Miklos and Zoltan, and three halfsiblings, Jayne Marie Mansfield and Antonio Tony Cimber and Tina Hargitay .
Source: Wikipedia