In the TV world, she plays a tough-minded detective dealing with some of New York City’s seediest kinds of crimes on “Law & Order: SVU,” but in Washington, talking about some of the real world’s most atrocious sexual violence, actress Mariska Hargitay practically chokes up.
“It’s debilitating,” she said, stumbling over her words. “It’s everywhere, it has to stop, and we have to educate, and I’m so proud and honored to be on a show that does just that.”
Hargitay was in town Wednesday talking about the effect television story lines can have on educating the public about an issue. Hollywood, Health & Society, an organization that works to put accurate public health messages in television and movies, sponsored the panel discussion.
“Because it’s television … people are talking about sexual violence in ways they haven’t in the past,” she argued.
The actress was joined by “Law & Order: SVU” producer Neal Baer, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation senior program officer Sally Canfield and Sandra de Castro Buffington, director of Hollywood, Health & Society.
