Mariska Hargitay has brought the brave Olivia Benson to life on the screens of Law & Order: SVU. Without a doubt, after all these years in the role, the actress's life has drastically changed.

Few actors can boast a television career as enduring and impactful as Mariska Hargitay’s. For over 25 years, she has portrayed Detective Olivia Benson on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU). Hargitay took on the role in 1999 at age 35, and today, at 61, she remains one of TV’s most celebrated and recognizable stars.

T hroughout the long-running Law & Order franchise, many actors have come and gone, with very few sticking around for 20+ years. Mariska Hargitay has been the face of Law & Order: