Mariska Hargitay, the star of ‘Law & Order: SVU’, recently shared insights on how her name is often misspelled on the set of the show. In a guest appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, Hargitay revealed that her name is frequently mispronounced, leading her to take a humorous approach to the situation. Despite being in the public eye for several decades, she still faces challenges with the correct pronunciation of her name.
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During the podcast episode, Hargitay humourously recounted a recent family brunch where even her cousin mispronounced her name. She clarified that her name is pronounced as Mar-ish-ka, often leading to various mispronunciations such as “Maritza, Marissa, and Markishka.” To address this issue on the SVU set, she creatively altered the call sheet spelling of her name as “M-A-R-I-S-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-K-A” to emphasize the proper pronunciation.
Even her former co-star Christopher Meloni, a close friend, reportedly joins in on the joke by occasionally calling her “Marissa” on set. Hargitay playfully emphasised that her name is indeed Marishka, shedding light on the origins of her unique name. She shared that Marishka is actually a nickname for Maria, meaning “little Maria” in Hungarian, a nod to her family heritage.
Beyond the light-hearted mispronunciations of her name, Hargitay delved into more personal topics during the podcast. She reflected on her critically acclaimed role as detective-turned-captain Olivia Benson on SVU, a character she has portrayed for almost three decades. Hargitay expressed how the character has empowered her, paralleling her own growth and journey both on and off-screen.
Recent projects, including an HBO documentary about her mother, Jayne Mansfield, have also played a significant role in her healing journey. The documentary titled ‘My Mom Jayne’ explores the life of the Hollywood icon, shedding light on Hargitay’s personal connection to her late mother. The actress revealed that she has been preparing to tell this story her whole life, describing it as a cathartic and transformative experience.
As ‘Law & Order: SVU’ continues to captivate audiences, Hargitay’s portrayal of Olivia Benson stands as a testament to her enduring talent and commitment to storytelling. The character’s evolution mirrors Hargitay’s own growth, serving as a poignant reflection of empowerment and resilience. Fans can catch ‘Law & Order: SVU’ on NBC and stream ‘My Mom Jayne’ on HBO Max to witness Hargitay’s compelling performances across various platforms.