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Making Space with Hoda Kotb

Making Space with Hoda Kotb

Mariska Hargitay On Facing Fear, Uncovering Family Truths, And Finding Inspiration In The Knicks

Jun 24, 2026 · 46m

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About this episode

For more than 25 years, Emmy-winning actress Mariska Hargitay has captivated audiences as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU. But in this deeply personal chapter, Mariska is turning the camera on herself. She sits down with Hoda Kotb to open up about her vulnerable documentary My Mom Jayne, where she explores the childhood loss of her mother, long-held family secrets, and healing past wounds. Mariska also shares what it is like to make her terrifying yet exhilarating Broadway debut at age 62 in Every Brilliant Thing, revealing how local heroes like Jalen Brunson inspire her work ethic, and how training ourselves in gratitude can fundamentally shift how we see the world.