Mariska Hargitay on Meeting a Mini Olivia Benson and Trading Friendship Bracelets: ‘Highlight of My Day’ (Exclusive)

For Mariska Hargitay, real sisterhood includes its youngest members.

The leading lady of NBC’s hit series Law and order: SVU caught up with PEOPLE before accepting the Sisterhood Is Powerful Award at the 2023 Women’s Media Center Awards on Thursday, and she’s all about showing love to the next generation of girls.

“The way I was called into the sisterhood and the way I was loved through the sisterhood changed me. And my favorite thing is to invite the little ones inside. It’s such a beautiful moment,” she says.

In fact, Hargitay, 59, went on to explain that she experienced such a moment earlier that same day while running home. The actress took a different path than usual when she found herself in unexpected company.

“I saw my friend’s daughter, and she introduced me to her best friend, who was named after Olivia Benson,” says the actress with a smile.

Mariska Hargitay on ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ Season 1 Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank Mariska Hargitay makes a rare appearance with daughter Amaya in Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Movie premiere

“And so I met this little girl, and she was named after me, and we were sitting there on the street and I gave her my ‘Fearless’ bracelet that I got in [Taylor Swift] movie. And I gave the other one my ‘Olivia Benson’ bracelet. I had two on me, just two, and I usually have that many. But I gave them to these little girls. And then they did their gymnastics for me on the street,” he recalls.

The best friends pulled all sorts of tricks — including breakups, Hargitay says — and the healthy start to her awards day is one she’ll remember forever.

“It was a glorious moment and I will never forget it. When I look up at Gloria [Steinem]and Jane [Fonda]and Robin [Morgan] who did that for me, and then I’m looking at these little girls?” she says. “That was the highlight of my day. It was so beautiful.”

Robin Morgan, Mariska Hargitay and Jane Fonda speak on stage during the WMC 2023 Women’s Media Awards at the Whitby Hotel on October 19, 2023 in New York City.

John Lamparski/Getty

For Hargitay, sisterhood is the be-all and end-all.

“I think it supports you, it gives you an architecture for love and security in the world,” she says. “And also a kind of self-compassion. As we get older, I’m just learning about compassion and empathy and putting it at the forefront of everything, because it’s a game changer. It’s a change for the trajectory of our lives.”

“It’s all about having each other as women,” she continues. “We never have to compete with each other – only with ourselves to be the best.”

And what happens next?

“Then we can say: ‘What would you do if you weren’t afraid?’ Bury your feet in the ground and stand in the grass and see the divinity within yourself and say ‘Why am I I here? What am I I should have done?'” she says. “And that’s what’s important.”

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Source: HIS Education