Mariska Hargitay Openly Talking About Her Age Is Exactly The Kind Of Conversation I Need To Hear

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I’m 47 years old, and I mention that simply to provide some context. I share my age without any hesitation – I feel grateful for the years I’ve had and see it as a straightforward fact. I’ve always known life doesn’t offer any guarantees, including a certain number of years, so while I respect why some people, particularly women, prefer not to reveal their age, I’m comfortable sharing mine, especially when it leads to celebrating others who are open about aging, like Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order: SVU, and her recent thoughts on the subject.

I enjoy listening to women of all ages share their experiences with age – there’s always something new to learn. I especially loved hearing Mariska Hargitay talk about turning sixty in a recent interview with Amy Poehler on the Good Hang podcast.

Mariska Hargitay openly shared her age while reflecting on her life journey and current place. She began by discussing the past few decades, explaining…

I’ll never forget turning forty. I used to tell everyone that’s when life really started! My twenties were tough, and I really had to work through things. Then my thirties felt like a fresh start. But things truly came together when I hit forty – I got married and had children. By the time I reached fifty, I felt confident and settled, like I finally knew what I was doing.

And then she gets into how things are going at 60:

Reaching sixty brings a fresh perspective. It’s not about saying ‘no’ in a harsh way, but with kindness and self-awareness. It helps you realize how precious time is, and inspires you to live fully, focusing on what truly matters – being productive, loving, generous, and importantly, kind to yourself. This newfound awareness brings a sense of clarity and purpose.

Growing up, I used to think adulthood after age 35 would be one long, similar stretch of life, eventually leading to old age. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized there are actually distinct and often very different phases within adulthood.

Figuring out who you are, and what you want your life to be, is always difficult, no matter your age, but it’s also what makes life meaningful. My 40s haven’t been perfect, and I imagine it wasn’t always easy for Mariska Hargitay either, even though she looks back on that time fondly. What I really admire is how she breaks down the key moments of her life over the past few decades, and especially how happy she seems to be in her 60s.

As I mentioned before, I get why people – especially women – often don’t like to reveal their age. While I’m not in the acting world, I’m sure it creates difficulties for those who are, especially as they get older. Age can affect the roles they’re offered, and actresses like Maggie Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts have spoken about this firsthand.

I understand why some people don’t like to share their age if they worry it could affect their career. However, I appreciate Mariska Hargitay being open about her life and how she’s feeling as she enters a new phase, which Amy Poehler calls the peak of one’s life. It’s helpful to hear different perspectives as I reflect on my own experiences.

Before I finish up, I have to mention that Hargitay isn’t alone in talking about age lately. Helen Mirren shared some really honest thoughts while promoting The Thursday Murder Club. She told People about this one interview where someone called her a “young spirit,” and her response was perfect – it really stuck with me. It’s just interesting to hear actors talk so openly about getting older.

What did I say? Fuck off? My spirit is the age that I am.

It’s understandable why the interviewer likely intended the comment about her being a “young spirit” as a compliment. However, it’s also easy to see why Helen Mirren might not have liked it. The phrase implies she embodies qualities usually associated with youth, when in reality, people of any age – even in their 70s or 80s – can possess those same traits.

I really hope that if more people honestly share their experiences at any age, we’ll stop making so many wrong assumptions about what it means to get older. But even if that doesn’t change, I appreciate anyone—famous or not—who’s willing to be open, especially if their story can help me understand my own life and make the most of the years ahead.

You can watch Mariska Hargitay’s interview on Amy Poehler’s show, Good Hang, in the video below. They talk about age around the 15-minute point, and her thoughts are really interesting.

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2025-11-02 19:09