At Tribeca TV Festival, Mariska Margitay calls ‘Law and Order: SVU’ a huge part of the cultural educ

(21 Sep 2018) AT TRIBECA TV FESTIVAL, MARISKA HARGITAY CALLS 'LAW AND ORDER: SVU' A HUGE PART OF THE CULTURAL EDUCATION ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE
Mariska Hargitay feels that "Law and Order: SVU" has been "a huge part of the cultural education on sexual violence" during its 20-year run, but still feels "we have a lot of work to do."
Hargitay spoke about the show's significance on the red carpet at the show's 20th season celebration Thursday (20 SEPTEMBER 2018) where it kicked off the annual Tribeca TV Festival. Fans waited outside to catch an advance screening of the first episode of the upcoming season.
Created by Dick Wolf, who made an appearance on the red carpet, the show centers around a squad of NYPD detectives assigned to the Special Victim Unit, who investigate sexually-based offenses.
"When we started this show, nobody was talking about these issues. That's why I was so drawn to the material. It's an incredibly progressive show, progressive idea, and really starting a conversation and taking sexual assault, domestic violence, and these issues that were traditionally swept under the carpet," Hargitay said.
"Law and Order: SVU" has dealt with topics like date rape, sexual harassment, child pornography, cyberbullying, and more. But, she says the subject that were once taboo, are now being discussed.
"The conversation is in full swing, and that's very exciting. I think the show has really been a huge part of the cultural education on sexual violence. I think we have taken on the issues of consent and the neurobiology of trauma and created a survivor-centric show that was utterly unique," Hargitay said.
Hargitay, who plays Lt. Olivia Benson, has been with the show since the first episode, and admits that covering the "dark" subject matter has had an effect on her.
"First of all being immersed in this material and learning the statistics and learning about the shame and isolation that survivors of sexual violence feel. That is what really called me to start my own foundation, and to respond to the subject matter that I was being immersed in every day," Hargitay said.
Her Joyful Heart Foundation helps empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.
That's why the show has become more than a job for her.
"What we aim to do is really encourage people to start a conversation, whether it's at home or with their friends. Because the statistics were indeed, you know, one in three women will be assaulted at some point in her lifetime. One in four women, one in six men will be assaulted - sexually assaulted by their 18th birthday. So, with these kinds of statistics, it's truly an epidemic that again as I said had been traditionally swept under the carpet," Hargitay said.
She added: "Thank God the culture has changed. Thank God. Sadly, you know, it's a blessing and a curse that these issues are out in the forefront of our culture. But we have a lot of work to do."
Ice-T joined the show at the end of the first season, and admits he was surprised by the impact that it has on its audience.
"Honestly, I didn't know that's what the show was when I got on it," Ice-T said.
He thought it was a traditional "cop show," but found out quickly it was much more.
Ice-T says some of the storylines have affected him, but he puts it in perspective.
He added: "You gotta remember that even though it seems heavy to you, you know, the little girl cries during the interview. And then as soon as they say, 'cut,' she gets on her phone and she's texting and stuff, so we're not totally immersed in it the way the viewer is when they see you actually you see it."
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Being sexually assaulted at home, it happened to one of my neighbors.
The guy climbed to the 5th floor till someone opened the door...