<p id=”par-1_44″><em><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/law-and-order-svu/”>Law & Order SVU</a> </em>star Mariska Hargitay’s life changed in more ways than one after <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/why-law-order-svu-star-christopher-meloni-told-mariska-hargitay-joke-during-first-screen-test.html/”>joining the hit television series</a>. But the show’s hectic schedule made it difficult for Hargitay to balance other areas of her personal life, which could occasionally take a toll.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-mariska-hargitay-found-balancing-her-home-life-with-law-amp-order-svu-difficult”>Mariska Hargitay found balancing her home life with ‘Law & Order SVU’ difficult</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” fetchpriority=”high” width=”1200″ height=”800″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg?strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”Mariska Hargitay posing as her ‘Law & Order’ character Olivia Benson.” class=”wp-image-3621707″ srcset=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg 1200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg?w=150&h=100 150w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg?w=640&h=427 640w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg?w=768&h=512 768w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg?w=1024&h=683 1024w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg?w=525&h=350 525w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg?w=254&h=169 254w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg?w=200&h=133 200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg?w=761&h=507 761w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mariska-Hargitay-Law-Order-2.jpg?w=90&h=60 90w” sizes=”(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px”><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Mariska Hargitay | NBC Universal/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-2_70″>As fulfilling as <em>Law & Order SVU </em>might be for Hargitay, it’s a series that also requires a lot of work. Hargitay and her crew often have to spend long hours on set each episode, which commonly includes working 12-hour work days. But the work doesn’t only start and end after filming wraps. Hargitay and her co-stars have to read and memorize the scripts they’re given to deliver consistent performances.</p>
<p id=”par-3_46″>Juggling all of these responsibilities may be difficult enough as it is, but it might be even more challenging when family is involved. Hargitay shares three children with <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/mariska-hargitay-proved-friend-wrong-met-future-husband-in-law-order.html/”>her current husband Peter Hermann</a>, and finding the time to spend with them isn’t always a simple process.</p>
<p id=”par-4_45″>“It’s hard. I’m not going to say it’s easy, it’s hard,” she once told <a href=”https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/mariska-hargitay-on-hard-balance-between-work-and-family/”>Us Weekly</a>. “I’m learning to [balance]. I try to be super present with where I am. I’m at work, I’m at work. When I’m with my kids, I’m with my kids.”</p>
<p id=”par-5_26″>Hargitay admitted that certain days can be harder than others. And on those days, that was when she’d briefly second-guess continuing her <em>Law & Order </em>career.</p>
<p id=”par-6_67″>“There are days I go home and just cry. There have been days when I didn’t see my kids. Those are the days I’m, like, ‘Maybe I’m done.’ But now, this is a gift of doing something for 20 years. We’re such a well-oiled machine. I go in there and I’m like, ‘Guys, I’ve got a kids’ thing. I’m out.’ They’re like, ‘Got it, boom,’” she said.</p>
<p id=”par-7_18″>But Hargitay confided that there are creative ways she and her family try to accommodate her busy schedule.</p>
<p id=”par-8_53″>“I have an incredible support system with my husband. He’s an actor so he also understands. I try to keep it organic. The kids come to set all the time. I’ve worked out my schedule a bit that I have a little more flexibility. I have a great team behind me,” she said.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-mariska-hargitay-joked-that-her-kids-wouldn-t-be-able-to-watch-law-amp-order-svu-until-they-were-40″>Mariska Hargitay joked that her kids wouldn’t be able to watch ‘Law & Order SVU’ until they were 40</h2>
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<p id=”par-9_47″><em>Law & Order SVU </em>often tackles serious subject matter based on real-world events. Even Hargitay’s character, Olivia Benson, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/mariska-hargitay-once-called-this-law-order-svu-episode-the-hardest-shes-ever-shot.html/”>has found herself in harrowing situations</a>. In a resurfaced interview with <a href=”https://www.etonline.com/mariska-hargitay-and-peter-hermann-reveal-when-theyll-let-their-kids-watch-law-order-svu-exclusive”>Entertainment Tonight</a>, both Hargitay and Hermann were asked if their children watched their parents on the police procedural.</p>
<p id=”par-10_42″>“Are you out of your mind?” Hermann responded to the inquiry. “They get to read this [children’s book]. Why do you think I wrote it? ‘You can’t watch the shows, but here is a really funny book that you get to watch!’”</p>
<p id=”par-11_17″>Hargitay also chimed in, joking that her kids wouldn’t touch <em>Law & Order </em>until they were middle-aged.</p>
<p id=”par-12_12″>“They’re not going to watch <em>SVU </em>until they’re, like, 40,” she said.</p>
<p id=”par-13_16″>Hargitay also added that her children didn’t seem too interested in following in their parents’ footsteps.</p>
<p id=”par-14_27″>“There is a lot of stick, I’m not going to lie, in our house,” Hargitay said. “But, no. They’re funny, they’re super funny, but they are…no [acting].”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-1-of-mariska-hargitay-s-children-was-confused-about-her-fame”>1 of Mariska Hargitay’s children was confused about her fame</h2>
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<iframe title=”Mariska Hargitay and Ice T Reflect on 20 Years of Working Together on Law & Order: SVU” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mvw2Kd_MRMg?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-15_53″>Hargitay asserted that her children understood their mother plays a cop on television. But according to the actor, that was as far as their awareness went regarding her occupation. This was why one of her children still seemed a bit confused as to why Hargitay received so much attention when out in public.</p>
<p id=”par-16_31″>“He thinks <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/mariska-hargitay-shared-took-years-perfect-walk-law-order-svu.html/”>I play a cop on TV</a>, end of story,” Hargitay recalled to <a href=”https://people.com/parents/mariska-hargita-2/”>People</a>. “So he asked ‘Why does everyone say I love you’ when we’re walking down the street?”</p>