Mariska Hargitay ‘Don't get mad. Do something about it’

One of the few certainties in Hollywood is that absolutely nothing, ever, is a sure thing. Back in 1999, the odds of success for a procedural drama series with a decidedly grim premise –following the NYPD detectives who investigate sex crimes – were not exactly promising. But when Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (now known more familiarly as SVU) premiered on NBC, it was an instant hit – and it has gone on to become the longest-running drama series in TV history, with 21 seasons and counting. The actress at its centre, Mariska Hargitay, became not only a star but also a passionate activist. As SVU grew in popularity, Hargitay received more and more letters from real-life