<Tr> <Th> Relatives </Th> <Td> Jayne Marie Mansfield (maternal half - sister) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Signature </Th> </Tr> <P> Mariska Magdolna Hargitay (/ məˈrɪʃkə ˈhɑːrɡɪteɪ / mə - RISH - kə HAR - ghih - tay; born January 23, 1964) is an American actress best known for her role as Detective / Sergeant / Lieutenant Olivia Benson on the NBC drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, for which she has earned multiple awards and nominations, including winning a Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award . </P> <P> The daughter of bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay and actress Jayne Mansfield, Hargitay made her film debut in the 1985 horror - comedy film Ghoulies and her major television debut in the 1986 adventure drama series Downtown . She appeared in numerous roles in film and television shows throughout the late 1980s and 1990s before being cast as Olivia Benson, a role that led to her founding the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to women who have been sexually abused . </P>

Who plays detective benson on law and order