Mariska Hargitay Addresses Persistent Name Mispronunciation on SVU Set

Mariska Hargitay, best known for her role as Captain Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: SVU," frequently faces mispronunciations of her Hungarian-derived name, which is correctly pronounced "Marishka" and means "Little Maria." Despite her decades-long career, including 26 seasons on the show, colleagues, fans, and even family members often mispronounce it, prompting Hargitay to humorously respell her name on set call sheets as "M-A-R-I-S-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-K-A" to emphasize the "sh" sound. Former co-star Christopher Meloni playfully contributes to the confusion by calling her "Maritza." Hargitay shared these anecdotes during a guest appearance on Amy Poehler's podcast, highlighting the ongoing challenge of name mispronunciation in the entertainment industry. She also noted that other celebrities, like Denzel Washington and Steve Buscemi, encounter similar issues with their names, underscoring the broader significance of respecting proper name pronunciations. This focus encourages fans to appreciate the cultural and personal meanings behind names, fostering respect and connection.