Mariska Hargitay Quotes

The definition of inspire is 'to fill with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.' There you have it: Jeffrey Bilhuber inspires me. I watch him make his magic, and I want to do the same. Those are always my favorite people, the ones who are so alive in the practice of their art that I want to jump in and join the fun.

They say that the average lifespan of an SVU detective is 4 years. People can't do it longer than that because it's so difficult.

I am grateful that I didn't let fear get the best of me. It only holds you back from possibilities and greatness.

When we're on the street and someone drops something, I pick it up.

Every day is deeper and richer and more soulful.

Yes. I did more research than I ever wanted to and saw some things I wish I didn't. I went on ride-alongs, spent time with Homicide, Cold Case, and SVU detectives, hung out in subways learning how to spot pervs and pick-pockets, viewed an autopsy, went to a police firing range, and witnessed court cases and I read, read, read.

Just having someone make you laugh so hard that it hurts is so healing to me.

If I can play a little part in the world's healing, and making it a better place than when I came, then I just thank God for that chance.

I think one of the mistakes actors make is we're so focused on what we're going to say.

Sexual assault and domestic violence are difficult things to talk about. Talk about them anyway.

When my body is strong, I feel stronger inside. I feel more capable of handling emotional situations. Usually I'm more of a inside-out person, but this was a great case of me from the outside in.

Criminals are just regular people who didn't have time to read all the laws.

I was lucky enough to have a father who said, 'Don't quit.' So I just kept going.

I don't have to be an expert. I just have to care.

I have a more developed sense of my priorities. Life has so much more meaning now.

I think God runs the show. Completely. Life proves it every day: He runs the show

Becoming a parent erased many of my negative childhood feelings and filled them in with something new.

Of course everyone says they hate baby talk, but mine was not annoying.

When I was in my early 20s, I had my hair permed. Bad idea! It turned into total frizz. My advice to women is, if you have nice hair already, don't get a perm, leave your hair alone!

It wasn't really that hard to act when you see somebody holding a gun to your partner. It's also believing the circumstances and I believed it.

By coming forward and sharing your story, you don't know the countless lives you change.

I think because I became a mom later in life, everything in life means more.

I say to everybody, 'Adoption is not for the faint of heart.'

Your body is not who you are. I don't think women should label themselves based on the way they look. What about defining yourself by a different kind of measurement? What about your heart, your soul, your compassion, your generosity, your strength and your power? There are so many other things to focus on besides your waistline.

You make sacrifices to become a mother, but you really find yourself and your soul.

I want to be a fun mom. Not a gasping for air mom.

If I eat clean, I look 10 years younger.

Being fearless means busting down those walls of fear and being who you are, not who someone else thinks you are. People like to put others in a box and tell them what they can and cannot do or who they can and cannot be. No one can tell you who you are and what you are made of, only you yourself know what you are made of, and only you yourself can do the work to become who you want to be.

No one can take away your pain, so don't let anyone take away your happiness.

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.

Sometimes things in life happen that allow us to understand our priorities very clearly. Ultimately you can see those as gifts.

Life begins at 40, and I'm living proof.

A guy at ABC told me to change my name and get a nose job. I said 'You get a nose job.'

I'm a water person; water heals.

My weekends are extremely precious.

Just smiling at someone walking down the street can make the person's day. It's all about paying it forward.

My heart just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

To me, the definition of sexy - at any age - is strength and confidence.

It's very difficult leaving the house anytime with my baby at home.

My Dad taught me that good health is all about living in gratitude.

People who overcome their fears every day, without fanfare, without recognition. Quiet, everyday courage, that's what I admire most.

These days we don't have to fit into something other people think we are. We've leveled the playing field, life is inclusive. I'm a mom, sex detective, wife, fearless, gentle - we can now, with grace, be all of what we are.

You know how you wake up in the morning and sometimes you look gorgeous and other times you look like you got hit by a mack truck? I realized that my mack truck is food. If I have no sugar, yeast or wine, I have no undereye bags and my skin is perfect.

You've got to kick fear to the side, because the payoff is huge.

Our early dating life consisted of trying to figure out whether we were dating.

Golf made me feel like a loser. So I dismissed it.

I'm a ready-shoot-aim kind of gal.

The only reason I have the career I have is that I didn't quit.

There's so much that you can get mad about. Out of self-preservation, I focus on being grateful.

Humor is about perspective, and hanging out with people who see life through a similar lens is so important.

You survived the abuse, you're going to survive the recovery.

But trust can take you a long way. And my faith takes me a long way. And I think that our pains, our vulnerabilities, and our insecurities can fuel us to be better. To try harder. To dig deeper.

Fifty years ago my Mother stood on this stage accepting this award; She was fortunate enough to have my Dad with her. Fifty years later, I'm fortunate enough to have my Dad with me. I love you, Dad.

Everything has combined to make my life in New York an amazing experience. I told my manager a few years ago that I wanted to move here and try acting in the theater.

I have everything I need. Our house is very joyful.

Over half a million women are raped in this country every year, and only a fraction of them report it because they're too ashamed. It's a really screwed up world, but its not your fault, and what happened to you, it doesn't make you the monster.

I have so much love that I didn't even know about.

Sixty-five percent of Americans don't have the conversation with their children. So you're sending off boys and girls off to college, off to high school, off to wherever they go, and nobody's had the conversation about how to conduct themselves. About a man telling his son how to be a man. How to respect a woman. How do you respect yourself?

Italian culture is so deeply soaked in an appreciation of the good things in life.

Being thin is not more important than enjoying life

Adoption was a bumpy ride - very bumpy. But, God, was it worth the fight.

Being sexy is just one part of being a woman and an actress. But if the part calls for sexy ...

When I was pregnant, I was so huge and people on the bus would get up for me. That made me feel so precious and valued and valuable. I try to treat everyone like they're pregnant.

Surviving and thriving in the wake of my mother's loss, I learned to believe in God. He has a plan, if you pay attention to the signs. I am inspired by the absolute proof of miracles.

When you see a girl like me bustin' perps, there ain't no time to be pretty.

I think people were expecting me to be that kind of glamorous sexpot. So they were always, Wow you're not what I expected.

I'm just grateful that my body is healthy. I want to be on this planet for a long time, so I try to eat things that make me feel good and make me strong. But I also love food and I love life: Some days having that extra bowl of pasta and a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup means more to me than being thin.

I wasn't at all trying to be skinny, My Mom is Jayne Mansfield, I'm allowed to have curves.

Meisner technique was different than anything I'd ever experienced. It's a really great way to be accountable to your craft and to yourself, but also it takes that kind of focus and dedication to learn anything.

You should've seen my big hair in the 80's, that was a real project.