Inside Mariska Hargitay's Tragic Real Life Story

"Actress Mariska Hargitay has starred on NBC's Law & Order: SVU since 1999. She created such an iconic TV detective character that Taylor Swift even named one of her cats after her. These days, Hargitay has a happy home life with her husband, actor Peter Hermann, and their three children, but it didn't come easily. Here's a look back at what the actress has survived… 


Tragedy strikes | 0:31
Jewel thief | 2:13
Urban legend | 2:48
Mind games | 3:13
Another brush with death | 3:38
Breakin' the law | 4:50
Less money, more problems | 5:35
Her father's death | 6:09
Injured on the job | 7:10
Baby problems | 7:53
The bright side | 8:58  "