Mariska Hargitay, known for her role as the empathetic Captain Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, is equally compassionate in real life. Recently, she shared insights into the profound emotional connections she has with fans of the show.

“When I started SVU, very quickly I started to receive a different kind of fan letter,” Hargitay revealed. “Instead of, you know, ‘I love your show; you’re a great actress,’ it was women and men disclosing stories of abuse. People started sharing and saying, ‘Your show changed my life,’ and ‘I’ve never told anyone [about my abuse].’”

She continued, “That is the sentence I heard most: ‘I’ve never told anyone.’”

Hargitay emphasized the importance of open conversations about sexual violence, noting how far society has come in discussing such issues. She hopes this progress continues and encourages everyone to engage in honest dialogue to help those affected process their experiences. “There’s nothing about this to keep secret,” she stated. “This is something we should all be talking about.”

Reflecting on the show’s impact, Hargitay said, “I knew very early that this wasn’t a regular TV show. I understood very quickly the power of healing this television show had.”

To see Captain Benson in action, tune into Law & Order: SVU on NBC Thursdays at 9/8c and the following day on Peacock.