After months of needing only one shoe to complete her outfits, the Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay, who had back-to-back injuries, is finally on the mend.
In 2021, while nursing a broken knee, the actor also busted her ankle when she took a spill on a slick rainy street, after a star-studded screening of Marvel’s Black Widow.
Refusing to allow her injuries any control, Hargitay powered through and continued filming in her role with Law & Order.
The daughter of Hollywood legend, Jayne Mansfield, Mariska Hargitay, 59, learned early in life how to deal with crisis. Only three when her mother died, the multi-generational talent is a fighter both on and off screen.
On June 29, 1967, Hargitay was sleeping with her two brothers in the back seat of the 1966 Buick Electra, when it rear-ended a tractor-trailer, instantly killing her mother and two other passengers in the front.
“I think I learned about crisis very young, and I learned very young that s— happens and there’s no guarantees, and we keep going. And then we transform it,” said Hargitay, who named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year in 2021. “That’s been kind of my superpower, and the gift of having trauma early in life…”
When faced with adversity, Hargitay keeps going.
The multiple award-winning actor is best known for her starring role as Detective Olivia Benson in the Law & Order franchise, SVU is second only to The Simpsons as the longest running primetime TV series.
In 2021, the star, then 57, was recovering from a broken knee and a hairline fracture in her ankle from May, and had only recently removed her brace when she slipped at the Marvel event, that was attended by guests like Black Widow star David Harbor, Drew Barrymore, Gayle King, Ellen Pompeo, Zachary Quinto, Donna Karan, Bruce Weber, and Brooke Shields, who recovering from a broken femur, ran to help Hargitay outside the Regal UA East Hampton Cinema.
A source told Page Six, “Mariska was rushing to leave the screening to welcome guests to her home, and took a tumble…She was taken to Southampton Hospital by ambulance with her husband Peter Hermann. She stayed there for several hours and ended up with a bandaged leg. She didn’t make it back to her house until after midnight when the party had mostly wound down.”
The Emmy-winning actress and Hermann, of Younger fame, were hosting an afterparty at their 11-bedroom mansion in East Hampton, which neighbors the homes of Jon Bon Jovi, Martha Stewart and Candace Bergman.
The source added, “Mariska was amazing. Rather than worrying about herself, she was more concerned that everything had gone well and that everyone had a good time at the party.”
Hargitay first revealed her injury in an Instagram post on July 6, showing her right ankle wrapped in a bandage and a beige, shearling Birkenstock sandal on her left foot. “My summer look,” she wrote.
Responding to her friend’s injury, Bridesmaids star Melissa McCarthy hit the streets of Los Angeles with a sign, “Honk if you’re PRAYING for Mariska Hargitay’s recovery,” later posting the video of her campaigning for honks on her Instagram page.
“Believe it or not, she sent me an even longer video that was pretty epic. I was absolutely blown away. I couldn’t even speak when I saw it,” Hargitay said in an interview, adding that McCarthy is “the most fun and the most creative” person. “She’s just a genius. She literally blew my mind, it was crazy…She’s pure magic, that one.”
But Hargitay wouldn’t let her broken ankle keep her down. Only a couple of weeks later, she was back to work, appearing on the set of Law & Order with a pair of crutches.
Speaking with People at the time and referencing her role as Detective Benson on SVU, Hargitay said, “I am getting better every day and very excited to go back to work and keep the streets of New York City safe.”
On May 2, 2023, the mother of three posted a new Instagram video from outside of the Hospital for Special Surgery.
“So, I just finished my follow-up doctor for my trimalleolar fracture–that’s a fancy word for breaking your ankle in three places–and I’m here at HSS…I got a clean bill of health and he told me to pretend like it never happened. So, just wanted to share that with you. HSS rocks and thank you all for your love and concern when it happened.”
When fans saw her post, they jumped in with comments, congratulating her recovery.
One fan writes, “Our real life Wonder Woman, thank you for updating us on your journey! This is just amazing news! So so happy for you, and I am so relieved and thankful you are all well again!” Another writes, “I’m glad you’re feeling so much better keep taking care queen. our bionic queen awesome news!!!!”
On an off the screen, Mariska Hargitay is such a powerful force! We are so happy she’s on the mend and we hope she continues healing!
