Mariska Hargitay has been playing beloved TV character Olivia Benson for almost half of her life, and while it “has surpassed my wildest dreams,” she admitted it has taken a toll. In a conversation with Selena Gomez for Interview magazine,

SVU' star Mariska Hargitay says the show's storylines gave her 'secondary trauma' and led to her Joyful Heart Foundation.

There's been times when I didn't know how to protect myself, and I think I was definitely a victim of secondary trauma from being inundated with these stories," said Mariska Hargitay.

The actress/producer told Selena Gomez for Interview magazine that bringing her character Olivia Benson to life for more than two decades has taken its toll on her personal life. She has played the character for more than 550 episodes of the “Law and Order” spinoff series, which is the longest-running primetime drama series of all-time.

Hargitay is mom to kids August, 17, Amaya, 12, and Andrew, 12, whom she shares with husband Peter Hermann Selena Gomez is asking for some parenting advice from her friend, Mariska Hargitay. Speaking to the Law & Order: SVU actress,

Selena Gomez recently opened up about her desire to be a mother. The singer-actor is now seeking parenting advice from Mariska Hargitay. The “Law & Order: SVU” star shares three children with Peter Hermann — two sons,