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Mariska Hargitay says she suffered ‘secondary trauma’ from ‘Law & Order: SVU’ plots

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Mariska Hargitay says she suffered 'secondary trauma' from 'Law & Order: SVU' plots

As a movie critic who has seen more than her fair share of gritty dramas and heart-wrenching tales, I must say that Mariska Hargitay‘s journey with “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her portrayal of Det. Olivia Benson over the past 25 years has not only captivated audiences but also deeply impacted her own life.

After a quarter-century of portraying a crime fighter on screen (both fictionally and in recent real life), Mariska Hargitay has not gone untouched by the scars of this experience.

Ever since 1999, I’ve had the privilege of portraying Manhattan Det. Olivia Benson in NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Unlike other shows in this franchise, “SVU” uniquely zeroes in on sexual offenses, with a focus on cases where the victim endures and collaborates with law enforcement to solve the crime.

For over two decades on the show, Hargitay has found it challenging to separate herself emotionally from its storylines, as they are based on real-life events (taken directly from newspaper headlines), she shared with Selena Gomez during an interview published this week in Interview magazine.

During our conversation, Hargitay shared that when the series began, she hadn’t anticipated how profoundly it would affect her. She admitted that she might have experienced secondary trauma due to constant exposure to these heart-wrenching stories, knowing they were based on real events.

She mentioned that when they go on travels together, their initial query is usually about the local crime rate.

SVU” episodes depict severe crimes, often referred to as ‘exceptionally heinous’ in the opening credits, ranging from child kidnapping to repeated cases of reproductive exploitation. The topics are intense enough that Hargitay maintains a secluded area on set for personal retreats, where she often seeks respite away from the cameras.

She shared with Parade magazine in 2019 that she secludes herself for a bit of inspiration because, truthfully, dealing with so much material is challenging. It’s a tough environment for her yet.

Before the show, Hargitay told Gomez, she didn’t know much about sexual assault or domestic abuse.

At the onset of “SVU’s” inaugural season, I joined show creator Dick Wolf at an awards gala hosted by Mt. Sinai’s Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program. That fateful evening, as I listened to the sobering statistics – one in three women and one in six men are survivors of sexual violence – it stirred within me a deep sense of responsibility. This revelation ultimately led me to establish my Joyful Heart Foundation.

Founded in 2004, this non-governmental organization aims to “remodel societal reactions towards sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse; aid survivors’ recovery; and ultimately eradicate such violence for good,” according to their official site.

Over the past ten years, Joyful Heart has collaborated with the Detroit Police Department to examine a backlog of thousands of unprocessed rape kits. This initiative uncovered 22 serial rapists, as reported by Andrea Canning on the “Dateline: True Crime Weekly” podcast last month. Their work was further highlighted in the HBO documentary “I Am Evidence,” which was produced and featured Mariska Hargitay.

Canning stated, “This issue is causing a chain reaction throughout the nation. It’s bringing about alterations in various places, such as among law enforcement agencies and district attorneys’ offices.

These tales aren’t fresh; they’ve been occurring since ancient times. However, they’re finally receiving the recognition they merit, and it’s taken a while. That’s why I’m incredibly thankful for the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements because now our voices are united in harmony, and they’re stronger and louder together. As a result, the culture is shifting because everyone is aware of it.” (USA Today interview, 2019)

Eventually, Hargitay explained to Gomez, while “SVU” gave her the platform to increase awareness on sexual assault, Joyful Heart provided her with an opportunity to take action against it.

She shared, “My career has exceeded even my most ambitious expectations, not just professionally, but also personally – as I’ve been able to integrate my acting with my charitable work or personal goals of contributing to people’s well-being. This is something I reflect on frequently.

Similarly, she noted, she’s been fortunate enough to grow not just as Mariska, but also as Olivia Benson.

In the early days of “SVU,” she continued, “I was not the boss and I had no power.”

Currently, I’ve come to understand my value, my strength, and what I bring to the table. I am completely at ease with my vulnerabilities, acknowledging all the instances where I still feel small. This is an incredibly serene state of being.

Season 26 of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” premieres Thursday, Oct. 3, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

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2024-09-26 00:31

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