by Jennifer Matos

“You have the right to remain… satisfied.”  That’s how you might feel if you are a fan of actress Mariska Hargitay.  Hargitay, daughter of the late actress Jayne Mansfield and former Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay, is one of the stars of the hit TV show, “Law and Order: SVU”.  She plays the role of Detective Olivia Benson, a member of New York City’s Special Victims Unit, compromised of detectives who investigate heinous sex crimes.

Detective Benson decided to join the SVU because of her past with rape.  Although she was not raped, she learned that her conception took place during a rape.  Along with her partner, Detective Eliot Stabler (played by actor Christopher Meloni), Benson is not your Cagney or your Lacey.  She’s edgy.  She’s dark.  She’s tough.  She’s well dressed, and she’s attractive.  With chiseled features and brown eyes that you could get lost in, she’s the kind of woman you would take to meet Mom.  So attractive, in fact, that she has been known to be a lesbian icon and a bit of a “pin up”.

It’s Hargitay’s portrayal of her character that has won viewers over and earned her an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe Award win for her performance on the show.  Hargitay portrays her character as someone who has a tough shell but makes herself vulnerable and accessible to the viewers.  In real life she is a new mother, a wife, and a rape crisis counselor.  She has donated her name and her time to causes that foster support for victims of sexual abuse.

In an interview, Hargitay was asked about why she thought her character resonated with so many women and how she felt about being a lesbian icon. “I think Olivia Benson appeals to a diverse group of women in so many ways because she is physically and morally powerful and emotionally strong but also nurturing--to others and herself. I think it's great that she can be a role model to young and old, gay and straight, and women of so many different cultural backgrounds. Although I have never thought of myself as a pin-up of any kind, I have no problem with being a lesbian pin-up. I'm flattered.”

Hargoitay’s acting credits also include “Seinfeld” and “ER”.  She can be seen on NBC, Tuesday nights at 10 p.m., (EST) and on the USA cable network.  Check your local listings for stations and times.  If you would like to read blogs, bios, and view pictures of Mariska Hargitay, you can visit her website at www.mariska.com.