Read the full transcript of American actress and philanthropist Mariska Hargitay’s interview on Good Hang with Amy Poehler, October 21, 2025.
Host: Amy Poehler; Guests: Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay
Welcome and Introduction
AMY POEHLER: Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Very excited about our guest today. The one, the only, Mariska Hargitay. We have wanted Mariska to come by for a very long time. We’re so happy that she’s here.
And we’re going to talk about a lot of very exciting stuff. We’re going to talk about her beautiful new HBO documentary, “My Mom Jane.” We’re going to talk about the fact that she’s America’s favorite detective. We’re going to discuss what parts we would play in an all female version of Hamilton. It’s a great interview and let’s get started listening to it.
But, oh, but before we do, guess who we have. You know, we always talk to somebody who knows our guest who has a question for our guest. And we got a good one. We got Christopher Meloni. That’s right. Detective Stabler is here.
And you may know him from Oz and from SVU and from Law and Organized Crime. Most importantly, you might know him from his star turn in Wet Hot American Summer, where I met him. But Chris Meloni is joining us today. Chris, can you hear us? How are you, friend?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: I’m fantastic.
AMY POEHLER: So good to see you. Where am I talking to you from? Are you in the city?
Christopher Meloni Calls In
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: You know what the irony is? I’m staying at Mariska’s place.
AMY POEHLER: Get out of here. How cool.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Yeah, and I can’t show it to you because I haven’t been authorized, so. No, but it’s super secret. It’s like a lair, you know? You remember the Batmobile? It’s a fence that goes down. You go into a cave and the fence goes up. I mean, it’s really crazy.
AMY POEHLER: Oh, you have to put your hand on a sensor and it only reads your fingerprints.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Yep. Everything. Yep.
AMY POEHLER: God, you know, this is all just satisfying for listeners that you’re staying at Mariska’s house.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah.
AMY POEHLER: Okay. Before we get to her, though. Hello. Hi.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Hi.
Wet Hot American Summer Memories
AMY POEHLER: We got to know each other on a cult classic, a film called Wet Hot American Summer, which, I mean, some could argue you stole that movie right from under all of these sketch little Shrinky Dinks.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Well, wow, thank you. That’s really sweet, because I just look at the whole piece as, you know, to me, it’s the epitome of a cult classic. In fact, when it did not do well at the box office, I remember I’d been in the business long enough to go, wah, wah. I had a great time. I thought it was great. Whatever.
And then all of a sudden, over the years, you keep seeing these young people or being stopped in the street by younger people, and you’re like, okay, am I crazy, or is this a thing that’s happening? Yeah. And that was so exciting.
AMY POEHLER: Let’s talk about what you’re working on. Are you shooting currently right now?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: No, I want to play the head coach of a football team in the NFL.
AMY POEHLER: I mean, you definitely have a coach vibe. How do you stay so fit?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Oh, man. You know, four or five days a week.
AMY POEHLER: Oh, my God.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: You know, and I’ve been working out, I calculate, and I think the longest I’ve not worked out is maybe two weeks.
AMY POEHLER: Oh, my God.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: And I’ve been doing that for 50 years.
AMY POEHLER: That truly sounds like a nightmare.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Yeah. And it was. Yeah, it is. But now it’s my drug of choice, so it’s all good.
AMY POEHLER: Yeah, I get it. I mean, it’s a fantastic thing to invest in yourself, and it feels good, and it lengthens your life and all of it, but, man. Yeah, that’s a lot of hard work. Well, on behalf of everyone everywhere, thank you. Congratulations.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: All the little people thank me. All the little actors in Hollywood, the frail little actors.
The Meloni-Hargitay Bond
AMY POEHLER: Now, Mariska and you, I mean, you’ve had to answer a million questions over the years about your relationship on the show and off the show and on shows and off shows, but it really is truly like you are family to each other.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Yeah.
AMY POEHLER: How would you describe, you know, your relationship to each other?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: I think it was based, I think there’s a strong cornerstone that is comedic based. We both are constantly in search of great comedy. And, you know, we literally tested out on each other. We used to, in between setups, we would act just drunk and then critique each other. Go, I guess. No, that’s too much. No, no. Okay, there. Go ahead.
AMY POEHLER: I used to say, too, when I had to play drunk, the first thing I would do is I would take a big step closer to whoever I was talking to.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: See, that’s good. Spatial awareness is gone.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Just one, because I know those people.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: You know, they do this thing.
AMY POEHLER: Totally. Okay. So you and Mariska like to do bits.
The Gerald Story
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Yes. This is something that for a split second, she was talking about, she was looking, you know, she was going out on dates a lot, or she was going out on dates. And I said, you should be dating a guy named Gerald. And why that struck us as funny, we don’t know.
But all of a sudden, she had a phantom guy that she dated that she was really in love with, but it was difficult to manage with Gerald.
AMY POEHLER: Sure. You had a fake boyfriend.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Yeah, but I mentioned, I said, I go, “Gerald’s here.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And she goes, “Gosh, Chris, you’re not allowed to do that.”
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: And she starts running out. She goes, “Gerald!”
I went, there you go. That makes no sense. It’s not even particularly funny. But it’s just funny.
AMY POEHLER: I love a bit. God, I mean, it’s the only way sometimes to get through a long day is a dumb bit.
The Spiritual Connection
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Yeah. And I’ll say this because the genesis of where I drove us, your question was, what’s the secret to the sauce? And so it’s the comedy. But I would also add that there’s something spiritual in it, and I think that’s in her nature. And, you know, perhaps it’s an aspect of mine that I recognize.
AMY POEHLER: Do you think you knew each other in a past life?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: That’s funny. Yeah. I don’t think in those terms, even though I feel that way. New York, to me, is that. When I arrived in New York, I went, I don’t even know what this thought is, but I should have been born here.
AMY POEHLER: That’s so funny you say that. I felt the same way when I came to New York. I thought, oh, right, this is the city I’m supposed to live in.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Right. Oh, you know something? I can check this box. I’m no longer lost.
AMY POEHLER: That’s how it felt to me. Interesting. I mean, I wonder if there’s this spirit, speaking of spirituality. There’s all this idea that there’s people in your life. And I can think of some for me who, just when I met them, I was like, oh, there you are.
And they became part of my life. They’re now, you know, we’re all of the age now. We’re now knowing and working with people for 25 years, 30 years, and suddenly it’s like they’re some version of, you know, a group that was supposed to come together.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: You’re funny. I have the same thing, and I’ve never put it in those terms, but when I walk away from someone, I’ll say this, that’s a solid citizen. But you go, that’s someone that you can build a community with. Yes, that’s a solid citizen. And it makes me, again, makes me happy.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Oh, I love that.
AMY POEHLER: That’s a solid citizen. I love that.
Preparing Questions for Mariska
Okay, speaking, so we’re talking to very solid citizen Mariska Hargitay today. Yeah, I’m very excited to have her in the studio. Mariska and I have gotten a chance to see each other out in the world, but never really had a real conversation.
And I’ve seen her, you know, I’ve been lucky enough to be part of the many good works that she does. And, of course, I’m a huge fan of her work, and I’ve been very moved by her recent film. But there’s a lot of sides to her.
And I feel like you get, you know, that everyday work environment thing is you really get to know someone. And so I guess, do you have a question for me today that I could ask her that you feel like she never gets asked or that, you know, I don’t know, she would like to be asked about?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: She is the consummate multitasker, and it’s a gift that I marvel at. You know, she’s a good connector of people. So she has a wide spectrum of the world, as well as a very keen, incisive, one-on-one engagement with people.
She can assess people very well and engages them always from a kind of a pure heart. She’s always trying to find the solution or the good. And I guess, you know, a question. What is that? What’s the driving force of all of these things?
And did you know that, you know, did you start out, “Oh, I’m going to be an actor?” And then when was it? When do the tumblers start to drop?
AMY POEHLER: I love what you’re saying because the figuring out the why of things.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: The why of the journey. Yeah.
AMY POEHLER: That is to me, you know, what curiosity is about. She seems like a very curious person, and I would be, and I’m curious about her curiosity, basically.
Discussing the Documentary
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: And, you know, that’s what I thought made her documentary about her mom so poignant was the clarity of what the journey was. Right. The genesis of it, her feelings, the things that needed to get resolved for her, the deeper insight. Oh, my God.
AMY POEHLER: Oh, we lost video again.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Hey, but that’s okay.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: No, no, no. Hold on. Do you have me?
AMY POEHLER: We have you.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Do you know why I lost you? Mariska just called me.
AMY POEHLER: She’s like, what are you talking about?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: She goes, “Why won’t you pick up? Are you naked?” Do you want me to call her?
AMY POEHLER: Yeah, let’s call her right now because she’s, I think she’s on the way here. Does she know you’re doing this?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: No.
AMY POEHLER: Amazing.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: No. So hold on a second. Don’t say anything. What? What’s up, girlfriend?
MARISKA HARGITAY: I felt so happy that you’re there. I really am. I’m so happy. I want you to enjoy it and just text me or Sophie if you need to figure out how anything works or whatever.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Okay. And was that a hint? Do you want a nudie?
MARISKA HARGITAY: Could I. But first of all, I’m so sorry. I’m so gross about those lemons. I went through a shit ton of lemons because I love having lemonade there all the time. Serious.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Well, I saw your lemonade sign. I saw your big lemonade sign right there. Hey, where are you going? What are you doing?
MARISKA HARGITAY: Right now, I’m going to Amy Poehler. I do a podcast. You know, I met her, but I don’t know her or anything. And then I’m doing that, and then I just have meetings for now that I’m a mogul at meetings. Why are you laughing? Why? Laughing?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: No, I love Amy Poehler with all my heart and soul.
MARISKA HARGITAY: That’s all.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: I was just playing with you. You’ve always loved her since day one. I love you more than you know. Thank you so much. Ciao. Love when I tell you that was a lot.
AMY POEHLER: When I tell you that you guys should start an OnlyFans where people pay to hear you guys FaceTime. That was incredible. I got very nervous. That was, I actually started to sweat because that was like a high school version of hearing how somebody was going to talk about me. Thank God she didn’t say anything bad. What if she had said, “I have to go do this dumbass podcast”?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Well, number one, I trusted that she’s not that. But I love that she didn’t want to offend me when I’m like, “Eh.”
AMY POEHLER: When you said “Eh,” I was like me.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Are you nuts?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: She just wants to play.
AMY POEHLER: She’s the best. I love talking to you. I hope I see you soon.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Good. I love you, Amy.
AMY POEHLER: Thanks, Chris. Great to see you, buddy.
Walking Out and Embracing Age
MARISKA HARGITAY: I was walking out of my apartment this morning and some lady, this very sweet lady goes, “Oh my God, my son goes to college where she went to college.” And so she said, “Oh, your son, he’s so great.” And then I don’t know how my age came up, but I go, “Yeah, I know. And now I’m 60.” And she goes, “Don’t tell anyone your age.” And I go, and she’s probably 70. And I go, “Why? I’m proud of it.”
AMY POEHLER: And you know, 60 is very hot.
MARISKA HARGITAY: 60 is the new hot.
AMY POEHLER: 60’s hot.
MARISKA HARGITAY: That’s why I get so happy for people that turn 60. I’m like, “Trust me, sweetie, it’s all just beginning.”
AMY POEHLER: I mean, people get really bunched up about age. I want to talk to you about it too, because I do think…
MARISKA HARGITAY: I’ll get into it. I love talking about it.
AMY POEHLER: Okay. Because I bet you like me, it’s only getting better. Only getting better.
Life Begins at 40, But 60 Brings Clarity
MARISKA HARGITAY: Only getting better. And I’ll tell you something. I remember when I turned 40, and I thought, and I used to tell people, “Oh, my God, life begins at 40,” because my 20s were super hard and really struggled. And then 30, you go, “Oh, okay, so now it’s a new beginning.” But then 40 is when it really kind of kicked in and I got married and had kids.
And then 50, you go, “Oh, I’m in it, and I know how to do it.” But 60 gives you a new permission. We learn “no” but “no” with love. And we learn, “Oh, this is how much time I have left. And I’m so grateful to be alive. And I want to spend my time in the best, most useful, productive, loving, generous, but also generous to myself way” that you go, “I’m just so clear.” There’s a clarity to 60s.
AMY POEHLER: Top of act three. 60s is top of act three.
MARISKA HARGITAY: That’s exactly right.
AMY POEHLER: And bottom of act two can be a little, there can be some reckoning. But top of Act 3, you’re like, “All right, let’s do it, let’s do it.”
Humor and Comedy as Life Savers
MARISKA HARGITAY: But also, listen, you’re the teacher of this. Also to everyone about, I really do, humor and comedy has saved my life.
AMY POEHLER: And a person who can make you laugh when you’re really down is like an angel.
MARISKA HARGITAY: It’s exactly right. Those are the words out of my mouth. And sometimes I’m so, this is why I’m still married. Because my husband, sometimes I’m so upset or something’s happened, and I’m so scared, and I’m like, “No, no, you don’t understand.” Or “I think I’m having an anxiety attack.” And then I’m like, “No, Peter, something’s wrong. I think something’s wrong. I feel a thickness, a tightness in my chest, and I might have to go to the hospital. I can’t feel my right, and I think I’m going to die.”
He immediately goes into the comedy. And as soon as I laugh, I go, because that’s his test. His litmus test.
AMY POEHLER: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Should I be scared or not? And I’m so grateful for that.
AMY POEHLER: Me, too.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I’m so grateful. I’m profoundly grateful for that. Even when my kids do bad things, I call them losers. And then they say, “Oh, it must be, it’s not that bad if she’s gone.” And we laugh through it.
Gentle Teasing as a Love Language
AMY POEHLER: I know. I mean that kind of, I’ve said this before, but gentle teasing is like a love language that means you’re safe. I’m safe.
MARISKA HARGITAY: We will get through this.
AMY POEHLER: I know. We’ll get through this. I know. And, you know, gentle teasing, even hard teasing. Hard teasing, hard teasing.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I learned that from, well, Chris Meloni was my teacher. This guy played so rough and was the first person that busted balls so hard. But I did grow up with two brothers, so I was like, “Oh, is this how we do it? Is this how we do it?” And we were so rough on each other, but then it became truly our love language.
AMY POEHLER: Okay. This leads me to say what I was going to say later in the interview, but I have to say now.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Oh, God.
Speaking Well Behind Someone’s Back
AMY POEHLER: Which is we do a thing at the beginning of the interview where we ask someone to speak well behind someone’s back. And we kind of ask, we do a little Zoom with somebody. “Oh, I’m talking to Mariska today. Do you think you have any questions I should ask her?” So we talk to Chris. Oh. And not only did we talk to Chris, but we just talked to him 20 minutes ago, and, oh, my God.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Look at me starting to sweat.
AMY POEHLER: Okay, I’m sweating, too, because he answered your phone call while we were on Zoom.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And I wrote back and said, “Why won’t you answer my FaceTime? Are you naked?” That’s what I said. “Just answer my FaceTime.” Because he’s at my house right now.
AMY POEHLER: Okay, we know. We know he’s at my house because he was talking so lovingly about you. I mean, absolutely. He’s going through your…
MARISKA HARGITAY: He’s going through all of it. I’m here.
AMY POEHLER: He is. First of all, thank you for not saying anything bad about me. Because it was like, Meloni put us both on the spot in the best way when he was like, “What are you doing?” And you’re like, “I’m going into Amy Poehler’s podcast.” And I was like, “Oh, my God.”
MARISKA HARGITAY: Wait, you were on the phone? You heard what I said?
AMY POEHLER: Yes. And I said, “You love her.” Yes. You were so nice. And it was, and so while I was talking well behind someone else’s back, somebody else talked well behind my back.
MARISKA HARGITAY: That was so sweet.
AMY POEHLER: Very healing.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Thank you.
AMY POEHLER: But by the way, is there anything…
MARISKA HARGITAY: Better than that than having somebody have your back?
AMY POEHLER: No, there’s nothing better.
MARISKA HARGITAY: There’s just nothing. I was talking to my sisters this morning. I’m learning about it. It’s everything to me.
AMY POEHLER: Well, Meloni’s got your back.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah.
Workplace as Second Home
AMY POEHLER: And you guys have, I mean, I want to get into it. Because it’s, to me, it speaks to this bigger idea of how our workplace becomes like a second home in our family. But you guys tease each other in a way that, to me is like, that’s what it looks like with the people I love. That’s how I show my love. And people don’t know you were in the Groundlings. Comedy first always.
MARISKA HARGITAY: How did I end up as America’s sweetheart sex cop? I should have been you. Oh, my God. I wanted to be you. I wanted to be a lawnmower. I wanted to be a lawyer. I was like, “Oh, my God.”
AMY POEHLER: Take it seriously.
MARISKA HARGITAY: All I wanted, if it was you.
AMY POEHLER: I was like, “Oh, my God.”
MARISKA HARGITAY: She’s…
AMY POEHLER: Oh, my God. All I wanted to do was be like, “Listen to me.” And everyone was like, “No, babe, no.”
MARISKA HARGITAY: Literally, should we switch for a day?
AMY POEHLER: My dream. Okay, I’m going to try to see if…
MARISKA HARGITAY: We can make this happen.
AMY POEHLER: We’ll Freaky Friday that shit.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah, we’ll Freaky Friday that shit.
AMY POEHLER: I mean, because I would watch and I was like, “God, to have that gravitas and to play those scenes and to be able to be in charge instead of being doing, doing, doing.”
MARISKA HARGITAY: But I’m in it. But in real life, I am doing.
Groundlings Days and Early Auditions
AMY POEHLER: Because you start, wait, how old were you when you did Groundlings?
MARISKA HARGITAY: God, that was many a year ago.
AMY POEHLER: In my 20s.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Right, 20s. And then Kathy Griffin always tells me in her book, she tells a story about how she dropped me also out of…
AMY POEHLER: Is she holding you?
MARISKA HARGITAY: She said, “We did the trust exercise.” And then I, of course, am like, you know. “Yes. And.” And she said that I just, you know, leaned back and she dropped me.
AMY POEHLER: Do you don’t remember that?
MARISKA HARGITAY: I don’t. And I also think maybe that’s part of what’s wrong with me now.
AMY POEHLER: When you were auditioning in the beginning, were you going out for comedic stuff? You were.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I did a lot of, yeah, I did. You know, I did Seinfeld and I did Single Guy, and, you know. You know, I tested for Friends.
AMY POEHLER: You did.
MARISKA HARGITAY: So many times.
AMY POEHLER: Oh, your heart. Do you remember?
The Psychic’s Prediction
MARISKA HARGITAY: I think it’s Monica. I think so long ago again. But I always thought that I would end up being on a sitcom or doing comedy. That’s what I thought. And it was so funny because this is one of my favorite stories that you will love.
So I’m in LA, struggling actor was doing. I think it was after. Was it after ER? Yeah, after ER, I was like, what am I going to do? What am I going to do? I loved ER, but I was like, I want to. I had a development deal with Warner Brothers DreamWorks. And so I was developing a show and it was sort of like a LA. What’s the show with Calista Flockhart?
AMY POEHLER: Ally McBeal.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Ally McBeal. Where it was half drama, dramedy. And that’s what I wanted to do. I was like, I want to do drama, but it has to be funny because that’s what I felt like my gifts were.
So I came to New York, which I did three times a year, to see theater. And then I met with the psychic. Everyone said to me, “Oh, my gosh, Mariska, you have to meet with this psychic. He’s amazing.” So I drove out somewhere on Long Island to this man and I went there and he started saying all this amazing stuff to stuff about my mom and stuff about a ring. My grandmother had just died. And he said there was going to be an issue with the ring, which there was.
And then he said, he looks at me and he goes. I was listening to him really intently like this, and he said to me, “Amy, you see that face you’re doing right now? You see that face?” He talked like that. I said, “Yeah.” He goes, “You’re going to be famous for that face. You’re moving to New York and you’re going to be famous for that face.”
And I said, “No, I live in LA and I’m going to be a comedian because I’m funny and I’m pretty and that is a deadly combination. I am going to be a comedian.” And he looks at me and this is my favorite moment in my life. He goes like this. “I don’t give a rat’s ass what you say. You’re going to be famous for that face.” Six months later. Oh, swear to God, all my children, I got SVU. Woo woo.
AMY POEHLER: Right?
MARISKA HARGITAY: And it was one of those things where you just go, but I don’t. Who’s this rat’s ass?
AMY POEHLER: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Is that not the best line you ever heard?
AMY POEHLER: Here’s how I feel about psychics. I love a bossy psychic.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yes.
AMY POEHLER: Because sure. You know what I mean?
MARISKA HARGITAY: Just tell me. Just tell me and tell me with confidence.
AMY POEHLER: Totally.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Because if you’re insecure, I’m out.
AMY POEHLER: And I’m going to forget what you said anyway.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I’m going to forget.
AMY POEHLER: But you got to remember the parts that came true.
MARISKA HARGITAY: That’s right. And he said, “I don’t give a rat’s ass.” Six months later, I was walking around doing that face, going, “Where were you Tuesday night?” Okay, so guys.
AMY POEHLER: Oh, God, I want to do that so bad.
MARISKA HARGITAY: It’s so good. I’m going to make this happen.
Learning from ER
AMY POEHLER: Well, you know, let’s talk about. You were on ER, and you were incredible on that show. And can you just tell me, before we get to your incredible show, what it was like to work?
MARISKA HARGITAY: Changed my life.
AMY POEHLER: And your performance on that show is very tender.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Thank you.
AMY POEHLER: I love your performance on that show. That character was felt very vulnerable and very funny and very sweet and tender. And to me, that. What was your character’s name?
MARISKA HARGITAY: Cynthia Hooper.
AMY POEHLER: Thank you. Cynthia Hooper. Working at the desk, being overwhelmed and being in love with Dr. Mark Greene, played by Anthony Edwards, and being like, “Is this the right place for me?” And it was so interesting to watch that character on that show at that time, because the show was about, we’re all here with a mission, and there was someone that was like, or maybe I’m. Or maybe I shouldn’t be here.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah, very much so.
AMY POEHLER: And it was so nuanced how you played her. Loved her.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Oh, thanks.
AMY POEHLER: Anyway, it was a generous experience to be on that show.
MARISKA HARGITAY: You know, we all. We lived through what ER was. It was the pinnacle of all television. I mean, it was the greatest show on the planet. And acting was so next level. And I look back at it and I think of how that show really shaped me and those actors shaped me and how invested they were, how amazing they were, how it was. It was acting like I’d never seen, but I knew. I didn’t know how to. I didn’t know how to do exactly what they were doing. It was a little out of my league.
But I watched them so skillfully and in such a beautiful, nuanced way. I think that was when I went, “I want to do that. I want to do that. Whatever they’re doing. That’s so masterful and skilled.” And that was such a. I love that you’re bringing this up. It was such a turning point in my life because of enacting. The truth is, it’s both, right? It can be so tragic, but then it’s so funny, right? Because we panic, you know, our heads get squeezed. We don’t know how to deal with it. All we can do is laugh.
And so it was such an integration moment. One of the greatest gifts I think, that my dad ever gave me was, “Mariska, you can learn from everyone around you.” So I’ve always been like, if you don’t know it, watch and learn, watch and learn. Whether they’re younger, older, anyone, watch and learn. So I did, and I do attribute so much of my success to those days of watching these masterful actors and going, “I want to do that.”
The SVU Audition
AMY POEHLER: You have this moment. You’re on that set. You’re learning what kind of actor you want to be. Can you walk us through how SVU comes into your life? Because it is. I mean, that show is beyond a TV show. That show is not only a cornerstone for a network, a franchise, but it’s also become, you know, an iconic American experience.
That show, and you are the captain of that ship, and I’m sure all of these things, you are now able to reflect and kind of process and hopefully enjoy. But at the very beginning, when it’s not a tree yet and it’s just a little tiny seedling, what’s that experience? You walking in, finding out about that show, auditioning for it, meeting Dick Wolf. Scary, scary Dick. I’m scared of Dick Wolf. I’m sure he’s scared.
MARISKA HARGITAY: You know what? Dick Wolf wasn’t scary to me then, because I didn’t fully know who he was and his. What he represented. And, you know, I don’t know if you’ve talked to Chris or. But if he told you about our audition. No, the experience was pretty magical. In terms of.
AMY POEHLER: Okay, tell us, please.
MARISKA HARGITAY: In terms of. I mean, listen, I have this personality, and Chris and I. I think where we bonded is that we both have that sense of humor, that sense of play, that sense of risk, that sense of, “I love you, it’s safe, so I’m going to beat you.” You know what I mean? And so that’s where the trust was built, and it came immediately.
So I had read for SVU, he obviously had read for SVU. And so our callback was three women, three men. And we got to the audition and we were to be paired up. I love that a lot of people.
AMY POEHLER: Don’t know that an audition, sometimes you just get a dance partner, and it can make or break your chance to get on the show, period.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Because it was about chemistry.
AMY POEHLER: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: So my agent said, “Oh, my God, there’s an amazing guy there. His name is John Slattery, and he’s reading for the role as well.” In walks Chris Meloni. And I go, “Slattery?” And he goes, “Meloni.” And so minute one, that’s how it opened. That’s how it opened, because I didn’t know what either one of them looked like in 1999.
And he came in, and I didn’t know there was going to be 47 people there. So as soon as Chris comes in and I’m like, “Slattery, it’s going to be me and Slattery.” And he goes, “Meloni.” And then I said, Chris comes in and, you know, he’s wearing no clothes. Big surprise.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: But so he has this huge cross and I’m like, “Oh, my God, you’re a Christian. You’re just getting it wrong.” And he goes like this. “Yeah.”
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: No.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And I go, “Then why do you have Jesus Christ on your arm?” He goes, “Because I admire his commitment.” And I’m like this, “Okay, got it, got it.” And it was such a. I was like, “Okay, well, there’s that. I’ve never met anyone like you, but I like it.”
And so we’re sitting there and then everyone comes in and then we got paired up and that was the end of it. Because I knew he was going to get it. I knew that he was Elliot Stabler. I knew it. I knew it. And so the other people, I think he felt the same way.
AMY POEHLER: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: So as soon as they paired us up, we were like, “Oh, okay, partner.” It was interesting. It was overwhelming. To get back to your question, it was utterly overwhelming. I loved the script and I loved the progressive nature of the show. I loved the subject matter and the fact that they were willing to tackle it. And I loved Chris.
The Dynamic Partnership
AMY POEHLER: What’s so interesting about your performance in the show and your dynamic together is you trade kind of masculine and feminine a lot back and forth.
MARISKA HARGITAY: That’s right.
AMY POEHLER: And the dance is really interesting. And in other hands, that character of Olivia Benson would feel a little one dimensional because she would feel, you know, kind of cut off from certain parts of herself. But what’s been so interesting and what I’m sure he brings out in you and you bring out in him is the yin and yang of those.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Very much so. And I changed very much when he left. But also that was done by design. And because as soon as I got the role, I went through a 40 hour training and became a rape crisis counselor. So I could fully understand because I was entering in such a new world and I wanted to understand the cops of it. I wanted to understand victims, advocates, rape crisis counselors and sexual assault from a more holistic viewpoint. And there was so much for me to learn.
And so once I became, you know, did the 40 hour training, I went, “Oh, I am not going to play this, you know, hard nosed detective woman who’s trying to fit into a man’s world and be masculine. I am going to be all of myself. Because that’s where as women, our power lives.”
AMY POEHLER: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: But also that’s where anyone’s power is, is when they have the ability for integration, right. And say, “I’m this and I’m this, and I’m this and I’m this.” What you don’t want to do is let. Is be put into a box or let anyone put you a box or put other people in a box, for that matter.
And then we learned very early. I mean, very early. We weren’t young. There was nothing young about us when we got the show. But we learned very early that the show was only as good as the guest cast. Right. So then we became very. With the guest cast, and we would just help everyone. And it became really. And that’s one of the things I think I’m most proud of, is when you step onto SVU, some people come on and they’re just unbelievable and talented and they understand it.
And some people, they’re nervous or they struggle or they don’t fully understand the character or they don’t. Whatever. We have 16 safety nets in place that they. It’s very hard to fail on our show because we got you.
AMY POEHLER: I mean, you’re often someone’s first job. You’re often like, Adam Scott was on here, and he talked about how he did a Law and Order episode.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I don’t think it was my show.
AMY POEHLER: No, it wasn’t SVU.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And I’m really upset because I’m so obsessed with Adam Scott.
AMY POEHLER: I know.
And all things devil.
AMY POEHLER: And I think it was with Jerry Orbach, who also, I used to hear was really, if you showed up and you knew your scene, Jerry would love you forever. If you didn’t know your scene—
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: No, no.
MARISKA HARGITAY: He’s like the road kid.
AMY POEHLER: What time am I? Yeah, like, chop, chop.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah, I got a heart. Out of five.
AMY POEHLER: I get it. Jerry, there’s a steak waiting for you at Morton’s. You got to get out of here. Period, period.
MARISKA HARGITAY: End of story.
AMY POEHLER: Yes, but who were some people? You must have seen a lot of people come through that you thought you saw them at the beginning of something. Is there anyone that you can—
Recognizing Future Stars
MARISKA HARGITAY: Abigail Breslin. The two people that I went, holy God, were Abigail Breslin. She was so young on the show. She kept doing this dance between takes and going like some kind of dance she was doing. And then I started doing it with her, and then we would just do it, and it was some funny little nursery rhyme shtick. I don’t know what it was, but I would just do it with her.
And then they’d say action. And I swear to God, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. She would turn one tear and start, like, lip quiver. One tear. No acting. But I remember going, what the f*? Are you like Meryl Streep? I said, are you like Meryl Streep? And she’d be like—and then she’d go back to her nursery rhyme. And I was like, oh, there’s something this kid has touched. She is so magical. Savant, savant.
And then there was another person that I called in. I remember saying it to her is Megan Fahey. When she did the show, I was like, let me tell you something. I’m just going to tell you right now. You’re going to be a big movie star. You’re going to be a huge star. And I don’t use that word because it’s so, like, star. What does that even mean?
But I just recognized her. A, talent. B, light. And C, she was so sparkly internally, like an internal sparkle. And there’s just been people that have come through where you go, oh, wow. And it’s almost like an effortless, beautiful light. And it’s so exciting. It’s so exciting to see them go on and go, I called it. Totally.
AMY POEHLER: I called it. And also, to your point, I’m just so in awe of the fact that you, in working with material on a daily basis, then made sure that you were able to handle the material in your personal life. That you knew, okay, I’m really going to get trained here. So I not only know what I’m talking about, but I imagine you anticipated—because I know you do get people who approach you with very personal things.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I do, yeah.
AMY POEHLER: Listen, the subject matter of the show is the reason I started Joyful Heart, my foundation.
The Joyful Heart Foundation
AMY POEHLER: Yeah. Talk about that.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Well, I just felt like I can’t—when I found out the statistics, which was one out of four, one out of three women in their lifetime will be sexually assaulted. One out of six men in their lifetime will be sexually assaulted. And when I learned those statistics, I was like, stop. Hold please. Why is everyone not talking about this? This is an epidemic. This is something that affects everyone. If you’re at lunch with three or four women, one person has been assaulted.
And so, because as soon as I started the show, everybody—because it was on television, it becomes water cooler conversation, and then it’s okay to talk about.
AMY POEHLER: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And that was the power of SVU, is that you had these horrific stories, true stories ripped from the headline stories being told. And then you had a fierce, protective father figure and a fierce, nurturing mother figure, which was Chris and I, to protect you. And that’s all anybody wanted.
So I think that a lot of it comes from the fact that there’s space to be heard. And think about everybody, every person on this planet. All we want is to be seen, to be seen and listened to. That doesn’t always happen, but when we’re listened to, half of it—and believed—half of the injury can go away.
And so I know that that’s how I heal, is being listened to and believed. And so I think the character who listens, who believes and then feels a need to fix and protect, obviously, is going to create safety, because that’s all you want. But I also—I can’t save the world. I can’t. I’m just trying to do it. But what I can do is teach people about how we begin. Teach people how we can listen and live in a more compassionate, empathetic, and kind way.
And simply by listening and simply by believing and simply by saying, “I’m so sorry that that happened to you,” it’s like tectonic plates shifting.
AMY POEHLER: Well, it kind of gets back to what we were saying, which is it’s not so much always about the doing of the thing. It’s just about the sitting and the feeling. It’s sitting in it. It’s not as much to do as you think.
MARISKA HARGITAY: That’s exactly right. And I think to go back to how we started this conversation, I think that is the clarity of being older and understanding. And for me, it’s been more about learning to be tolerant. Tolerant with myself. And the more tolerant I’ve become with myself or my own pain, the more internal space that I’ve had, which is why I was able to make my film.
Making “My Mama”
AMY POEHLER: So let’s talk about your film. And Chris’s question to me, for you is a perfect segue into the film. Because Chris wanted me to ask you when we were talking well behind your back, and then he took a phone call from you, and then you talked well behind my back, thank God.
But Chris wanted me to ask you—and it’s kind of what we’ve been talking about today. There’s a curiosity to you. You don’t want to just figure out, you don’t want to just be outraged about things that are wrong or not working. You want to figure out the why behind things. The why is very important to you.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And—
AMY POEHLER: He was wondering, where do you think that comes from? And that question made me think about your film because, for people, it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. “My Mama”—Mariska made a beautiful documentary about learning more about herself and her mom and her entire family and all the connections there.
And it felt like that exercise in trying to figure out the why behind your origin story feels like it also exists in other things that you do in work and in life and in your family right now. Is there a connection there? It’s like figuring out the why.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah.
AMY POEHLER: It’s funny.
MARISKA HARGITAY: My mom, my stepmom just actually text—I don’t have my phone, but she texted me yesterday. This sort of why of it all is just coming up right now in a very crystallized way, which I love, when sort of everything sort of comes together like that.
But yeah, I think that I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to make sense of things, of chaos. And also, I’m living a life right now that I never thought that I was capable of living. And so I still am trying to put together the pieces of why and what those Jenga or Lego pieces were that helped build it.
And so for my film, I was just trying to understand these people and their decisions. And so I wanted to go in with this disciplined curiosity because I had jumped to so many conclusions and because I felt different my whole life, and like I didn’t belong. And then when I found out what I find out in the film, I was like, why? Why would he not choose me or claim me? What’s wrong with me? Why would she leave me in this mess? Why did I feel—what were the things that were set?
Why did, like a little Detective Child, I was like, this doesn’t add up. This doesn’t add up. This doesn’t add up. And I wanted to understand why. And I also wanted to just have somebody be straight with me.
AMY POEHLER: I mean, Mariska, it’s so deep, what you’re saying, that that is little—that is Detective Child, then becomes in real life, this powerful detective on television who is advocating for other people to get answers while she spent the very most important beginning years of her life trying to figure that out for herself.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah. And I think that I don’t think I could have made this movie before now.
AMY POEHLER: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I had to build the infrastructure. Yeah, right. To make sure that it was solid as a rock.
Life with Peter
AMY POEHLER: One of the most beautiful things about the film is this idea that you’re toggling between kind of like yesterday and today and your present as you have such a beautiful family and you have such a wonderful partner in Peter.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I do.
AMY POEHLER: And that relationship, watching that in real time is so moving and also just sexy and fun. You guys are a lot of fun together. I’ve had the opportunity to see you together, and you’re a really—you spoke about it earlier, the way in which he can kind of joke you off of the ledge. You guys have fun with each other. You enjoy each other. You’ve been married for how long?
MARISKA HARGITAY: 21.
AMY POEHLER: And you met on SVU.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Chris and I were so—that was what was hard for people. And a lot of people have said it. We were so in our own private Idaho, and we would just be joking, joking. And it was such intense energy between us that I think people were like, I can’t play on that level. Do you know what I mean? I can’t. I’m sure it’s like that on you guys. You felt people go, oh s, this is some next level s.
AMY POEHLER: Oh, yes. Sometimes when I would kind of have someone around all the comedy people, and they would just be doing bits and bits and bits and bits. I’d look over to a person’s face and they’d be like, get me out of here.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah, yeah. No, I can’t imagine.
AMY POEHLER: Help me, help me. Yeah. Or also, I don’t know how to get—okay. But Peter. Oh, tall Peter.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Tall Peter.
AMY POEHLER: How tall? Six five?
MARISKA HARGITAY: No, it’s so crazy with Peter and I. And I’ll tell you something, that was another thing that my dad said to me. He goes, “Mariska, find out where you’re going. And then who’s coming with you?”
AMY POEHLER: Oh, that’s so good.
MARISKA HARGITAY: But Peter and I just—I didn’t get married till I was 40, and we dated for two years, and then once he asked me to marry him, we got married in four months because I had to do it over hiatus. You know what I mean? So it was like, okay, chop, chop.
AMY POEHLER: They were like, and we’re rolling, and—
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah, we’re rolling. And so then it was just—I’m so grateful for me that I don’t think I could have handled a marriage earlier. I don’t think I’d be married. I was just too—had too much to learn. So I just went straight to the second husband.
AMY POEHLER: Smart.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah, right? And so we’re—it’s just good. I’m just grateful that I had a little bit more life experience.
AMY POEHLER: And what’s your communication style? How do you guys—
MARISKA HARGITAY: You know, it’s so genius.
AMY POEHLER: How do you—yeah, how does it work?
MARISKA HARGITAY: I’ll tell you something. We have a skill that I wish I could teach you.
AMY POEHLER: Can you? You could start a seminar right now.
MARISKA HARGITAY: What we do is there’s tension. Somebody will say something, and that’ll annoy me. And then there’s this brilliant thing we do. And I think it’s brilliant because, again, it’s comedy and always works where we do this thing where we switch roles.
AMY POEHLER: Right?
Household Dynamics and Communication
MARISKA HARGITAY: But you do a thing. If I said, Peter, you know, I’ll get mad at him. Because he’ll leave his clothes around, and he leaves little messes everywhere. And I’m like, why can’t you just pick your s* up and put it. Why does it have to be in every room? Everywhere he goes, there’s messes everywhere. Just tiny little pile. And I’m like, do you know.
AMY POEHLER: And he’s so tall that the piles must be huge.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Huge. That’s exactly right. And I’m like, why? Do you see how much effort I put into having the house neat? I need the mental space for something to be organized. I have so much going on. And so then he’ll do. I’ll get mad, and we’ll have things.
AMY POEHLER: He’s like, I just left it in for one second, whatever it is.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And then he’ll come in and left a cup. And he goes, how many times have I asked you. It’s really important to me. If you could just. And then he’ll say exactly what I said. So what it means is he really gets it.
AMY POEHLER: Yes.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And it works with everything.
AMY POEHLER: So you’re meaning. He parrots back to what you said.
MARISKA HARGITAY: But from his point of. But as he takes. It’s like wife appropriation.
AMY POEHLER: Well, I think it’s actually what they do in couples therapy, which is basically say back.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yes, but he does it as it’s his. And the problem now is because I’ll do it to him. I go, he’ll. Sometimes I’ll say the wrong word. And he’s like, I just wish you’d be more thoughtful with your words. Because he always says the right word. And I get. I say the gist, right?
AMY POEHLER: I’m a gist person, too.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I’m a gist. And so I go, you know what I mean? And look at all this gesticulating I’m doing so you could think. Feel me. I can. My energy is coming at you. And he’s like, just take a second and maybe think about it. But all in our house, the comedy thing is we just rip on the kids. Same. I mean, I just say, don’t do that, because if you do that, you’re a hack and a loser. Is that what you want to be? Is that what you want to be?
AMY POEHLER: Totally.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And people come over and they don’t know us. They’re like, oh, s*. And I go, yeah.
Intimacy and Honesty
AMY POEHLER: To me, that is how intimacy is that. I’ve said this before, but politeness is for strangers and for people that we don’t know. By the way, I don’t feel safe around polite.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Because then I’m like, me neither.
AMY POEHLER: What are you thinking? I promise you, I won’t torture you. I won’t play games with you. And please, if I go, do you like this? And someone goes, no. I go, great. I want to know if they don’t like it.
MARISKA HARGITAY: We’re exactly the same. This way. Yeah. Somebody came to me and said, do you like these shoes? And I went, nope.
AMY POEHLER: And it helps with directing, doesn’t it? Because you just make really fast decisions.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I say, you know, I do want to say.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: I want to say.
MARISKA HARGITAY: When I’m directing, I go, guys, guys, you suck.
AMY POEHLER: And I’ll say that.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I go, oh, my God, you’re so bad. We’ll be in the middle of a take. I say, you guys are so bad. I don’t know what just happened, but I’m embarrassed for you. Let’s cut and try that again. And. But now they know to laugh, but.
AMY POEHLER: They also know I’m right. Yes. And also, you know what I love about you, Mariska, is I knew that.
MARISKA HARGITAY: You would tell me.
AMY POEHLER: I knew you wouldn’t do this podcast unless you wanted to.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I wanted to so bad, because I.
AMY POEHLER: Know that you don’t really do things you don’t want to do.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Not anymore.
AMY POEHLER: Right. That’s kind of the reward that one gets if they’re trying to stay true and they’re trying to be a good person. One of the rewards, if you’re paying attention, is you might get to a point where you really try to stay true to what you want to do.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah.
AMY POEHLER: And so I get comfort in that. You’re here because you want to be here, not because someone told you to be here.
MARISKA HARGITAY: No, exactly. Okay.
AMY POEHLER: But let’s get into some real questions.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Okay. Okay, hold on.
Rapid Fire Questions
AMY POEHLER: This is rapid fire. Speaking of directness. Okay, rapid fire.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Let’s go.
AMY POEHLER: Jalen Brunson.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Love. People are so jealous of me. I know. I like it.
AMY POEHLER: The cutest relationship ever. How did that start? He loves you.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I love him.
AMY POEHLER: I know you guys love each other.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I think it started.
AMY POEHLER: New York Knicks player for the New York Knicks.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I mean, it’s just the sweetest thing and it’s just. It’s just another one of those meant to be. Sometimes I don’t even question things. I think Jalen was brought up on SVU. You know what I mean? I think his dad, Rick, I. Every time I say that, I laugh. It sounds like I’m name dropping Rick. Rick and I were like this. But Rick. Rick loved SVU. He watched it. Jalen. So I think the first time I went, they were like, oh, you know, they in that. And then we connected and it was just easy and effortless.
And I’m, you know, huge basketball fan. And I got to meet Jalen also before he was Jalen. You know, he’s Jalen now these last, what, three, four years, right?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: But.
MARISKA HARGITAY: But it was. It predates that. So it’s so beautiful because he. There was just such a. He’s so. I mean, he’s so sweet. He’s such a killer and such a captain and such a leader, but he is so soft and mushy and sweet and kind and he’s such a lover of his family. He’s so good. And so I just feel so honored to be in his orbit.
AMY POEHLER: Yeah, it’s really, really.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I really do. It’s crazy.
AMY POEHLER: It makes you feel good.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah.
New York Moments
AMY POEHLER: Okay. Strange. I’m sure you’ve had a million strange things happen to you shooting in the streets of New York. Anything that stands out, a moment of pretty wild New York, you know, only in New York moment.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Well, there’s, you know, there’s the old. When we’re shooting, and then people just come up to us right while we’re in the seats and start talking and then be like, oh, my God, I love your show. And I’m like, well, that’s good because we’re actually shooting it right now to see that camera, and they’re like, oh, my God, hi. And then they keep talking so that I like. Or there’s the opposite of that.
When people have said to me, and Chris. Chris was there. I love this one. I don’t really get you shot. I don’t get you or your show. And I’m like, well, okay, thank you, thank you, thank you for that, for.
AMY POEHLER: The in person feedback.
MARISKA HARGITAY: It doesn’t speak to everyone.
AMY POEHLER: And they go right up and tell you. Do you think of yourself as a New Yorker now?
MARISKA HARGITAY: I do. You do? I do now, yeah.
AMY POEHLER: Okay, what about who should play you in the movie of your life? I always. Let’s think about this.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Oh, God, that’s a good one.
AMY POEHLER: I mean, it’s. Because it’s do we want. Do we want. I feel like it’s going to. I feel like it’s a really good girl.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I can’t think of her name.
AMY POEHLER: Cate Blanchett. I think Cate Blanchett plays you in the story of your life.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I like it. Now, you are really thinking outside the box here, sister.
AMY POEHLER: I want this movie to open, baby. I want this movie.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I think it’s. Well, I’m going to go with the Megan Fahey. See how I go.
AMY POEHLER: Meghan Fahey is you in your 20s and 30s on ER, trying to figure it out. And then we cut to the.
MARISKA HARGITAY: She and I have the same beautiful, beautiful blue eyes. Go ahead.
AMY POEHLER: You’re right. Okay. Have you always had such nice hair?
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yes.
AMY POEHLER: Yes, I have. Your hair is incredible.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Well, my hair was good. Well, my hair was good. I didn’t love. I had some bad years on SVU when it turned bad years on the TV. I did some Martha Washington stuff that was not good. We. There was some stuff that I. There was not good. That combined with bad Botox. I had some bad years.
AMY POEHLER: We all have had some. We’ve all made some choices that we regret that we’re cutting.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yeah. And we have.
AMY POEHLER: Tossled and lose. I have so much fake hair, and I don’t even want to take it out on the table. It would be horrifying, you know, that.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I didn’t wear fake hair today because I was like.
AMY POEHLER: It’s just because you were like, Amy’s not going to wear it.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I know. She goes, do you want to put in a piece? I go, no. Amy’s just real and natural.
AMY POEHLER: I’m so stuff.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And she. I just want to be like Amy.
AMY POEHLER: And have that 25 pieces of fake hair. Okay.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Next time I come, should I be invited back? I’m going to look like Rapunzel. Okay.
The Name Game
AMY POEHLER: I want full volume. How badly have people screwed up your name?
MARISKA HARGITAY: Oh, I still live with it. Who was it last night? Oh, I had a lunch yesterday. I had a brunch yesterday for my sister and my cousin was there. Your own cousin? I’ve known him from 19 since 1994. And he kept calling me Mariska. And at one point I go, mom. And then I said, no, just let it go.
And then Chris and my friends, when it happens. Because it happens on set a lot now. On the call sheet, it’s M A R I S H H, H H H, H, H, H, K A. That’s how I put it on the call sheet. Just so people go, oh, okay, got it. She’s big on the H’s. But he was calling me. I get called Maritza, Marcica, Markiska, but Chris will call me Maritza at one set just to confuse people. Oh, yeah, Marita and Marissa.
AMY POEHLER: You know, I’ll tell you who learned it. All of America and the world. The world learned it, so. But it’s Mariska.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Mariska.
AMY POEHLER: And what does it mean? What does that name mean? Oh, gorgeous, talented.
MARISKA HARGITAY: One ray of sunshine. Queen of. Queen of. Queen of.
AMY POEHLER: Queen of. Queen. Queen of. Straight talk.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Yes.
AMY POEHLER: One with the thick, luxurious hair.
MARISKA HARGITAY: That’s means. It’s a nickname for Maria. It means little Maria in Hungarian. The K A or K E on end of a name. It just is an endearment. So the name is actually Maria, after my grandmother. Both of them Hungarian and Italian. See the film, people. That’s right.
AMY POEHLER: On HBO right now.
MARISKA HARGITAY: On HBO right now.
AMY POEHLER: Such a good film.
MARISKA HARGITAY: It’s such a good. But don’t you kind of love that? Both grandmothers.
AMY POEHLER: Beautiful also, Marie.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Maria.
AMY POEHLER: Maria. Do you. You. You’re a Hamilton fan, by the way, because I was about to sing so hardcore. Me too.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Did you say it 27 times?
AMY POEHLER: No.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I win.
AMY POEHLER: Two. Seven.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Two seven. And by the way, my claim to fame and when people say, when did you know you were famous? And I go, when I would call Hamilton or just show up at the theater, and they’d bring a chair, put it in the audience.
AMY POEHLER: And I’d be like, that’s right. You earned that. You earned that.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I was so like, I’ve made it.
AMY POEHLER: You earned that.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I don’t even have to have a ticket.
AMY POEHLER: You know how much those tickets were? No. They were like, let’s get Mariska her chair.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Just get her her chair.
AMY POEHLER: I was like an old woman. I didn’t even mind you went by yourself.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And I go in with the cane.
AMY POEHLER: That is a 27 times.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: I know.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And I just had this great actor on SVU last episode, and he’s now in the show, and so he was like, I hope you come. And I go, oh, I’ll be there. So it’s even a thing where the new cast members want me to come see you.
AMY POEHLER: Oh, that’s. Have you ever done Broadway?
MARISKA HARGITAY: Broadway?
AMY POEHLER: Yes. That’s how you’re supposed to say it.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Well, thank you. Broadway. That’s how they know I want to do Broadway.
AMY POEHLER: Broadway.
An All-Female Hamilton
MARISKA HARGITAY: I want to be in an all Hamilton f*. Right? You and me with straight talk. Okay, wait a minute. We would be Aaron Burr and Hamilton. Well, who’s.
AMY POEHLER: Who. Let’s get. Let’s take a minute.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Okay, let’s.
AMY POEHLER: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Thank you. Slow it all down right now.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Who’s.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Who?
AMY POEHLER: Aaron Burr.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Because I think I. I think. I think you might. I think I might be Aaron Burr.
AMY POEHLER: I. That’s what I was going to say.
MARISKA HARGITAY: You swear?
AMY POEHLER: Yes. And not just because I want to be Hamilton.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I want you to be Hamilton. And I feel like I could get the rage.
AMY POEHLER: I think you have a gravitas that Aaron Burr needs because. And I think I have a.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I know all the lines, though.
AMY POEHLER: Do you? An energy. I don’t know.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Okay, I get you.
AMY POEHLER: Maybe you should do both.
MARISKA HARGITAY: But you just do their. And then you lip sync to me. But the only problem is one thing I can’t.
AMY POEHLER: You can’t sing.
MARISKA HARGITAY: No, but maybe we do it in.
AMY POEHLER: Well, God is fair.
MARISKA HARGITAY: We don’t need. You can’t sing.
AMY POEHLER: One thing you can’t do, babe. One thing you can’t sing.
What Makes Mariska Laugh
MARISKA HARGITAY: Oh, that’s funny. I got two more questions.
AMY POEHLER: Okay, okay. Okay. What’s making you laugh these days? What do you always ask my guests? What do you listen to? Do read to lighten up, to laugh.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Nate Bargatze.
AMY POEHLER: Oh, love him. He’s my fav.
MARISKA HARGITAY: He’s so. I’m so. I don’t even know what he. I don’t even understand what he’s doing.
AMY POEHLER: Okay, let’s break him down because I love him.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Well, it’s the. He’s mastered this kind of slow guy that’s a genius. Right? That’s the shtick, right? It’s like he’s kind of slow and dumb, but he’s smarter than everyone.
AMY POEHLER: Yes.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I love him so much. And can I tell you why? Also, I love him. I was in LA. I didn’t know who he was, and I was with my friend, and she said, I think that’s Nate Bargatze. And I said, who’s Nate Bargatze? And she goes, that’s August’s favorite comedian. So I went up to him and I go, are you Nate Bargatze? Hoping I’m saying it right.
AMY POEHLER: He was like, we’re shooting right now.
MARISKA HARGITAY: He goes, yeah, I am. And I go, well, my son loves you. Can we call him? No, I swear to you. I swear to you, I did. And you know why I did it? Because do you know how many people do that to me? And I thought that I had good karma. I had good call karma. And you know what he said?
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And so we called him.
AMY POEHLER: You did not.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I swear. And he’s like, hey, man, I love him.
AMY POEHLER: Love him. He’s so funny. Do you watch a lot of stand up? Do you like to go to see stand up?
MARISKA HARGITAY: I love good. I love good comedy. It’s my happy. That is my happy place. August. That’s what we love. But I’m also critical. Yeah, they’re not funny. And I don’t know who I have to judge.
AMY POEHLER: Yeah, you can judge as much as you do.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Just what I like.
AMY POEHLER: I feel like comedy is like music.
MARISKA HARGITAY: That’s true.
AMY POEHLER: You just like who you like. You like what? You like their song. Whatever it is, I love it. And I love Nate and I love.
MARISKA HARGITAY: You know what I’m listening to late at night before I go to bed? I don’t know why I love it so much. Is that Jim Carrey bit doing Vanilla Ice.
AMY POEHLER: Hold on. Okay. It’s an In Living Color sketch.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: Yes.
MARISKA HARGITAY: This is it.
AMY POEHLER: And he’s dancing.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Watch. Just listen it. Wait.
AMY POEHLER: He really looks like him.
MARISKA HARGITAY: He kicks his shoe off just fine. Is that not the best thing? This was so fun. I know, but can you imagine how excited? Because I said I used to see you around?
AMY POEHLER: Well, we.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I don’t see you anymore. And I remember. I remember. What do you remember? They say you’re good and sparkly and beautiful and kind, and you bring joy.
AMY POEHLER: Thanks, Mariska.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And Chris doesn’t like anyone. Yeah. He really is a very judicious guy. And he loves his family, he loves his kids, and he has three friends. He likes me.
AMY POEHLER: Yeah.
MARISKA HARGITAY: And that’s pretty much it. And I just remembered he just loved you, and so I.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI: It’s.
AMY POEHLER: That’s very nice to say.
MARISKA HARGITAY: I was so funny that I called him today.
AMY POEHLER: Okay. Mariska, you’re the best.
MARISKA HARGITAY: This is so fun. I told you. She’s like, are you ready? I was like, sweetheart, I’m born ready.
Closing Thoughts
AMY POEHLER: Thank you so much, Mariska. That was so fun. That was such a good hang. And, you know, in this polar plunge, I just want to take a second to say, let’s picture a world in which Cate Blanchett plays Mariska Hargitay in a movie of her Life Story because I would watch it. And if there’s any producers or financiers listening who want to partner up with me on that and Kate, if someone can get this message to Kate, I think that that would be a great project.
And I’ve been asked before, if your life was a movie, who would you want to play you? And my answer is very simple, and that is Meryl Streep. I want the best. And I can’t guarantee the movie will be good or interesting in any way. Honestly, it’ll probably be a flop. But Meryl at the helm, it’s going to be a good performance. So Meryl, Kate and Meryl, I’m assuming you’re together. Please, please call us at 1-800-good-HANG the movie. Hashtag Mariska Hargitay’s movie. Hashtag/life. Life rights. And we’ll get this going.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Okay?
AMY POEHLER: Sorry, I’m. I’ve lost. I’ve lost the plot. Okay, bye. Thanks for listening.
MARISKA HARGITAY: Bye.
AMY POEHLER: You’ve been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by the Ringer and Paper Kite for the Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Cat Spillane, Kaia McMullen and Alaya Zidane. For paper kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Mil.