Mariska Hargitay is officially a Hollywood legend. The Law & Order: SVU actress got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, making her the 2,511th person to be honored. And in a very nice sentimental gesture, Hargitay’s star was placed next to her mother’s, actress Jayne Mansfield, who died in a car accident when Hargitay was just three years old.

The Emmy and Golden Globe award winning actress is currently filming her 14th year as Detective Olivia Benson on SVU. The popular series, which investigates sexually oriented crimes, was the first spinoff stemming from the Law & Order franchise. The hour long show typically takes its plot lines from current headlines and events and delivers the narrative from two separate vantage points. The first half of all Law & Order shows depict the investigative part of the crime, that is where Hargitay’s character Detective Benson does her police work. While, the second half of the episode, shows the audience the prosecution part of the crime.

The 49-year-old actress played bit parts in television and film before being cast in a recurring role in the hospital drama ER in 1997. From there, she got the attention of Law & Order creator Dick Wolf. Both Mr. Wolf and Hargitay’s long-time friend Hilary Swank were present at the ceremony. Mr. Wolf spoke at the event. “I love you, you’ve done an incredible job. You are one of the icons of television, and certainly, I think the female icon for millions of women not only here, but all around the world.”

SVU inspired Hargitay to help victims of sexual assault and violent crimes. In 2004, she started the Joyful Heart Foundation. Their mission statement is “to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.”

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