Mariska Hargitay and Jamie Lee Curtis sat down for what was supposed to be a thoughtful conversation about careers, creativity, and personal milestones. Instead, they also gave fans an unexpected reminder that even Hollywood legends can get sidetracked by the smallest disagreements.
The actresses recently appeared together for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series, where they discussed some of the projects that have defined their recent work. For Hargitay, much of the conversation centered on “My Mom Jayne,” the deeply personal documentary she released in 2025 about her late mother, screen icon Jayne Mansfield.
The discussion also gave Hargitay an opportunity to reflect on another major achievement. After spending more than two decades portraying Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: SVU,” she recently fulfilled a lifelong dream by making her Broadway debut in “Every Brilliant Thing.”
Speaking with Curtis, Hargitay described the experience as both exciting and intimidating. While she has become one of television’s most recognizable stars, stepping onto a stage in front of a live audience presented a completely different challenge.
“I am very unlike Olivia Benson, but nobody knows that except for my friends,” she said. “Being onstage has been my lifelong goal.”
The opportunity held special meaning because it brought her back to a passion she had pursued long before it became synonymous with one television character. Hargitay even recalled receiving advice years ago from acclaimed stage actress Kathleen Chalfant, who once told her, “Don’t sell out and do TV.”
Of course, shortly afterward, “Law & Order: SVU” entered her life and changed everything.
Now, after decades of success on television, Hargitay says Broadway has allowed her to stretch herself in ways she never expected and revisit a dream she thought might have passed her by.
Mariska Hargitay, Jamie Lee Curtis (2025), (IMAGO/Cover-Images)
The transition from television to live theater has required Hargitay to embrace a completely different mindset. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, she admitted that performing on Broadway comes with a level of vulnerability she rarely experiences on television.
“It definitely feels like you’re going out without a net, but that’s also the thrill of it,” she explained.
Unlike her long-running role on “Law & Order: SVU,” where she knows every corner of the production process, the stage leaves little room for second chances.
“Even though I’m still challenged at SVU, I know the drill. I’m a boss lady,” she said. “I can say, ‘Cut. Sorry guys, let’s go again.’ “
Broadway, however, offers no such safety net. “But that’s the challenge,” Hargitay added. “Bring it on, baby, let’s do this.”
The Variety “Actor’s on Actor’s” conversation with Curtis later shifted back to Hargitay’s documentary work, with the actress reflecting on the emotional process of revisiting her family’s history. Curtis was in the middle of discussing Hargitay’s return to California while making the film when the interview suddenly took an unexpected turn.
According to Hargitay, there was one detail she simply could not ignore:
“I’m trying not to laugh, because you just said Los Angeles,” she interrupted, referring to Curtis’s pronunciation of the Californian city.
The comment instantly reignited a disagreement the pair had apparently had before. Curtis defended her pronunciation, while Hargitay remained unconvinced.
“Okay, we had this argument,” Curtis responded.
As the debate escalated, Curtis asked, “But what do you call it, Los Feliz?”
“Yes, but we’re not talking about Los Feliz,” Hargitay fired back. “You don’t say ‘Los Angeles.’”
Convinced the room would support her side, she then made her case directly to those nearby.
“If I had a jury here,” Hargitay declared, “everyone would vote for me.”
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