Get the latest gossip

Mariska Hargitay Reveals She Was Raped By a Friend in Her Thirties


The 'Law and Order: SVU' star shares her story in a personal essay.

The 59-year-old actress shares that for a long time, she tried to cope with the experience through her work with Joyful Heart Foundation, which is aimed towards supporting and empowering survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Hargitay also reveals that she downplayed her experience, even telling her husband, Peter Herman, that "it wasn't rape" because it happened at the hands of someone she knew and was not a stranger. NBCFor 25 years, Hargitay has played Captain Olivia Benson on SVU, a woman who's dedicated her career to helping victims of special crimes like the one she experienced in her personal life.

Get the Android app

Or read this on Entertainment Tonight

Read more on:

Photo of Mariska

Mariska

Related news:

News photo

Mariska Hargitay Reveals She Was Raped by a Friend: ‘This Is a Painful Part of My Story’

News photo

Mariska Hargitay Is Looking Forward to Turning 60 After Losing Her Mom at a Young Age: ‘Big to Her’

News photo

Mariska Hargitay Shares Rare Photo of 17-Year-Old Son August During Kenya Vacation