Mariska Eyes Her Emmy!
Did TV Guide Online's
2004 Dream Emmy Ballot call it or what? In the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category, four out of our five picks were nominated by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. And it's an understatement to say we're
especially psyched to see NBC crimefighter
Mariska Hargitay in the running. As Det. Olivia Benson on
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the 40-year-old daughter of 1950s screen siren
Jayne Mansfield has wowed us consistently. Just hours after learning of her Emmy nod, Hargitay hooked up with TV Guide Online for a mutual lovefest.
TV Guide Online: Congrats, Mariska! We were rooting for you all the way.
Mariska Hargitay: Thank you. I really appreciate the support and love I've gotten from TV Guide Online. Three people called me and said there's somebody over there saying really nice things about me.
TVGO: Well, our own Michael Ausiello is the crazed fan who put you on the Dream Ballot...
Hargitay: That's it! He's the one who called me "TV's most-underrated actress." I was really flattered. Tell him I said thank you so much, that really meant a lot.
TVGO: Consider him told. But just so you know, we all love you here.
Hargitay: [Laughs] I love you! I'm on the love train today!
TVGO: Your final scene with Stephanie March, when she exited the series, was played so subtly and well. With March's character returning from the dead, it could easily have gone another way...
Hargitay: A little too soap opera? Yeah. Well, you have great taste because that's probably my favorite scene I've ever done! My favorite scene last year, anyway. Bottom line: When you do a show like SVU, which is police-procedural-with-a-big-twist, it's rare that you surprise yourself. You do the same thing for so long, and you think you know how your character would react to situations. The thing for me is I did my prep work, but I didn't know where it was gonna go, so I just trusted. I'm proud of that.
TVGO: Will it be included on the reel you submit to Emmy voters?
Hargitay: You know, this is all so new to me, I don't know what we do or how it works! There's scenes I love from different episodes. [Hesitates] I haven't thought about it — I'm not there yet! But to me, moments like that are what keep you doing what you do as an actor. I gotta tell you, it's still really fun for me on SVU. It's still really fresh and there's surprises. I love it. I think I want to hang around for a little bit longer!
TVGO: That was my next question. You've stuck around awhile. You're not feeling the itch to ditch, like other L&O actresses?
Hargitay: No, I'm not. I feel like the writing is getting better and more compelling and [SVU writer] Neil Baer is taking our show to new heights. It started getting stronger in the third year, but now, I just can't believe this stuff they come up with! It's so intelligent and gray and complex. Our show honors smart audiences. There's so many other shows you watch and get mad, like, "I'm not an idiot!!!" But it's a specific kind of person who watches our show: a thinker.
TVGO: Can you preview SVU's upcoming sixth season?
Hargitay: I just finished shooting an episode called "Charisma," which is my favorite show ever. Chris Meloni and I are working in tandem, in separate scenes. It's probably the most difficult show I've ever done in my life. It's this amazing story about a cult figure. You gotta watch it because it's really poignant and sad.
TVGO: Back to the Emmys. Just like your mom, you're a major glamour girl. What will you wear?
Hargitay: My gosh, gimme a few days to think! I gave you glam at the SAG Awards, didn't I? I just love to look like a girl because I don't get to be a girl on the show. I'll have to think about designers... [Suddenly realizing] But, you know, my wedding is two weeks before the Emmys! This is going to be a big two months for me.
TVGO: Wow! When's the wedding?
Hargitay: It's August 28. I'm really excited about it. I can tell you I'm going to wear a very traditional, elegant Carolina Herrera dress. It's a classic, simple, beautiful, glorious, feminine A-line dress.
TVGO: Many brides complain about wearing the gown only once. If it's so fab, wear it to the Emmys, too.
Hargitay: [Laughs] Never gonna happen, baby! Never! Maybe I'll put it on every year at my anniversary or something, but that's it.
TVGO: Your hubby-to-be, Peter Hermann, is a former soap hunk from Guiding Light. Nice going, ma'am!
Hargitay: He's pretty amazing. It's all good. He plays an attorney, Trevor Langan, on SVU. We honestly haven't done a lot of scenes together, but we met two years ago while doing a scene. We got in a fight — in real life! I made a joke and he didn't think it was funny. I was like, "Whoa, get a sense of humor."
TVGO: So it's a contentious, heated sort of romance? I picture you being a handful.
Hargitay: [Laughs] Totally. I'm telling you, it was love at first sight. But you know me, I'm a challenge. You gotta keep 'em on their toes. If they can't take a joke, get rid of 'em! Who needs 'em!
