Mariska Hargitay on More Magazine Cover For February

The always beautiful Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order SVU) will be featured on the cover of More Magazine for the February 2010 issue, scheduled to be on newsstands on January 26. She’s billed as the “sexist cop alive,” and fans will certainly agree. Here is an except from the feature, courtesy of More Magazine, and don't forget to pick up your copy!

Mariska Hargitay on the February Cover of More Magazine
“The only reason I have the career I have is that I didn’t quit,” she says.

New York, NY- Mariska Hargitay is riding high as one of prime time’s best-loved (and highest-paid) actresses. The Law & Order: SVU star opened up to More for its February issue and discussed her surprising financial worries, thoughts on The Jay Leno Show bumping SVU, and living in the shadow of her iconic mother, Jayne Mansfield. Excerpts from the story, on newsstands January 26th, follow:

Why even she stresses about money: “I constantly worry about money. I make a lot now, but I don’t feel that way, because I was poor and had no money for a lot longer than I’ve had it. As an actor, if this show ends next year, then what? As an aging woman, then what? I’m saving money to live on, for the future. There are not that many roles for women, and I’ve been blessed with one of the great ones.”

About SVU’s move into the 9PM slot because of The Jay Leno Show : “It ruined our numbers. The first four episodes, we were considerably down because nobody knew when the show was on. Finally, we’re starting to find our audience again.” Given Leno’s disappointed ratings, she wishes the network brass would reconsider. “I hope we go back to where we belong. It was doing so well. Why mess with it?”

About the constant pressure for actresses to be beautiful: “I think I’m a very attractive person, but I don’t put myself in the realm of the beauty. That’s not where I get my esteem. I’m a size 8, and I feel proud of that, because it’s healthy. I’ve never felt compelled to be a skinny actress.”

About handling rejection as an exotic brunette beauty: “A guy at ABC told me to change my name and get a nose job. I said, ‘You get a nose job.”

About being compared with her mother, Jayne Mansfield: “I can never compete, so I don’t try. It’s mega über, it’s legendary, it’s iconic. Being a sex symbol is not my thing; it’s not where I shine.”

About finding her “home”: “Children, when they lose their mother, have a different antenna: ‘When will I be safe? When will I be home? I lost my home too early. I’m getting it back through Peter and August, and, strangely, through the foundation. It’s about following the signs, listening to your inner voice. I’m living my life, and I know that this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

About getting hurt on the set of SVU: In October, Hargitay landed awkwardly and didn’t’ realize until months later that she had suffered a collapsed lung. “I thought it was a pulled rib. I’m pretty tough. When I couldn’t breathe anymore, I got an X-ray, and they couldn’t believe I was walking…I was doing stunts when I was pregnant. I’d fall, jump on guys. Now there are scenes when I have to run, and I’ll only take a few steps. Everyone is super-careful of me.”

About Joyful Heart, her foundation which helps survivors of sexual assault: “Doing something about it takes away some of my sadness. We can get closer to cures by shining a light on [the abuse]. I liken it to what happened with AA 15 years ago, where there’s not a stigma to it. We’d love to see that happen to sexual assault.”




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