Mariska Magdolina Hargitay (also know as Marishka Hargitay) (b. January 23, 1964 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress best known for her role as Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

She is the fourth of Jayne Mansfield's five children. Mansfield had divorced Hungarian-born former Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay (and would again in 1964), yet they were living together when Mariska was born. While actor Nelson Sardelli claims to have fathered her (her dark features in contrast to those of the sons Mansfield and Hargitay had would seem to support this), Hargitay, apparently, never questioned the child's paternity and raised her as his own ... (read more )