The only time Mariska Hargitay won an Emmy Award for playing Olivia Benson was 20 years ago, in 2006.
The star of 27 seasons of “Law and Order SVU” went to more nominations but her final one was in 2011.
But now, she gets the last laugh. NBC’s longest running star will host the Emmy Awards this September on her home network.
This has been a big year for Hargitay. She just had a stint on Broadway in a one woman show, “Everything’s Brilliant.”
Her documentary, “My Mother Jayne,” about her late movie star mother, Jayne Mansfield, was highly praised and won a raft of awards. Catch it if you can — it’s terrific.
But it’s her run as Olivia Benson, the pioneering detective turned captain in the Special Victims Unit of the NYPD, that is her calling card. Almost three decades have passed, and Hargitay has never hit a lull. Her performance is consistently good, a high standard for TV or movies.
The Emmys have long ignored procedural dramas, no matter how big a star might be featured. For example, Angela Bassett is on “911,” and gets no attention. Linda Hunt was on “NCIS New Orleans” forever. There’s so much talent, but a lot of snobbery. Almost no broadcast shows get any nominations.
For Mariska, this has to be sweet vindication. And NBC isn’t stupid. Olivia Benson is incredibly popular. Hargitay radiates good vibes. The Emmys may finally get a rating. And think of all the actors who’ve worked on “SVU” over the years. The whole Emmys could be a running gag about Hargitay employing all of Hollywood.
Nicely done!
