Currently, Mariska Hargitay is widely recognized for her portrayal of Olivia Benson in the acclaimed series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. However, her journey to becoming a dramatic actor was not initially in her plans. Hargitay possesses a sharp wit and a delightful sense of humor that often goes unnoticed in her role on SVU, but she had the opportunity to showcase this side of her personality during her recent appearance on the popular Call Her Daddy podcast.

During her captivating conversation with host Alex Cooper, Hargitay reflected on her childhood and the various experiences she encountered in the entertainment industry. She shared a memorable story about her early visits to New York City before landing the iconic role of Olivia Benson in what many consider the best police procedural drama ever.

How a Psychic Predicted Hargitay’s Future Fame in Drama

Hargitay’s Initial Disagreement with the Psychic’s Prediction

When Mariska Hargitay reached her thirties, she was actively working as an actor, frequently attending auditions and contemplating a shift toward a career in theater. As she recounted on the Call Her Daddy podcast, she made it a point to travel from her home in California to New York a few times each year, solely to immerse herself in the vibrant world of live theater.

During one of these trips in the late 1990s, Hargitay engaged in conversation with a friend who resided in New York. This friend encouraged her to visit a psychic located in Long Island to gain insight into her future. Intrigued yet skeptical, Hargitay decided to take the plunge and see what the psychic had to say.

Despite her reservations about psychics, especially considering her mother’s fame as Jayne Mansfield, Hargitay made the drive and sat down for a reading, curious about the predictions that might unfold.

To her astonishment, and perhaps not surprisingly to fans of modern television, the psychic claimed that Hargitay would gain fame for her “serious face” during their interaction. Hargitay, who had always envisioned herself in comedic roles rather than dramatic ones, initially dismissed the psychic’s declaration as mere folly.

Less than a year later, she found herself landing the pivotal role on Law & Order: SVU, a turning point in her career that would forever change her life.

Here is Hargitay’s captivating account of that fateful visit:

During my trips to New York, I used to go see theater shows twice a year… One day, a friend said to me, ‘Mariska, you have to see this psychic on Long Island.’

I had no idea where Long Island was, but I drove out there to meet this psychic, who gave me a reading. Given my mother’s fame, I had my doubts, thinking, you might just Google me and make assumptions…

So, I sat down, and as we conversed, he mentioned a few things, and I was listening intently. Suddenly, he pointed out, ‘you see that face?’ I have it recorded. ‘You see that face right now?’ I said yes, and he said, ‘you’re going to become famous for that face. That very serious face.’

At first, I was dismissive; I thought, no, I’m funny and attractive, a deadly combination, and I’m destined to be a comedienne. He then confidently told me, ‘I don’t care what you think; you’re going to be famous for that face.’ He then added, ‘And you’re moving to New York.’

Why Hargitay Has Not Consulted Many Psychics in Her Role as Olivia Benson

SVU Features a Noteworthy Psychic Character in One Episode

It remains unclear whether Hargitay currently holds any beliefs regarding psychic phenomena, as she did not reveal her stance during the podcast. However, her character, Olivia Benson, would likely dismiss the idea of consulting a psychic entirely.

While many crime procedural dramas incorporate storylines featuring psychics aiding investigations, Law & Order: SVU has only featured one storyline involving a psychic, specifically in the sixth season episode titled “Pure.”

In this memorable episode, Martin Short guest-starred as a character who claimed to possess psychic abilities and approached Detective Stabler (played by Christopher Meloni) regarding a missing person’s case. However, it quickly became evident that Short’s character was not genuinely psychic, but rather the actual antagonist of the episode.

“Pure” tackles the theme of psychics in a rather dark manner, contrasting sharply with Hargitay’s real-life experiences. The Long Island psychic who confidently predicted that her serious demeanor would lead to her fame turned out to be remarkably accurate.

Hargitay’s remarkable portrayal in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit earned her an Emmy award in season 7, making her the first main cast member of the Law & Order franchise to achieve this honor. To date, Hargitay has appeared in an impressive total of 574 episodes of SVU, with more to come.

Mariska Hargitay has truly become the defining face of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit—the serious and compassionate face of the series—just as the psychic had predicted.

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