Mariska Hargitay Receives Honor at 2026 TIME Women of the Year Forum
Filmogaz.com — At the 2026 TIME Women of the Year Forum in West Hollywood, Mariska Hargitay accepted an honor for her advocacy and new film work. She spoke in an emotional keynote conversation with Lucy Feldman, TIME’s editorial director.
Keynote and documentary
Hargitay used the stage to discuss destigmatizing sexual assault and domestic violence. She highlighted her HBO directorial debut, My Mom Jayne, which recently premiered.
The documentary reexamines Jayne Mansfield’s legacy. It also revealed that Hargitay’s biological father was not the man who raised her, Mickey Hargitay.
Onstage vulnerability
The keynote underscored nearly 30 years of public service. Hargitay described turning private history into public storytelling.
Advocacy and the Joyful Heart Foundation
Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004. The organization focuses on survivor advocacy and legal reforms.
The foundation has worked on untested rape kit backlogs. Its efforts contributed to a 2025 federal law, the Take It Down Act.
The Take It Down Act addresses nonconsensual intimate images and AI-generated deepfakes. The law aims to protect survivors online.
Television work and public education
She continues directing and executive producing on Law & Order: SVU. Her episodes promote awareness of sexual assault nurse examiners.
These storylines aim to educate the public about survivor care during traumatic medical exams. Hargitay uses television to advance reform efforts.
Reaction and event details
The West Hollywood EDITION hosted the forum. Sponsors included Target, Booking.com, Toyota, Deloitte, and Maker’s Mark.
Fellow honorees and attendees praised Hargitay’s work. Named honorees included Lucy Liu, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chloé Zhao, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
- Teyana Taylor spoke warmly about sharing the stage with fellow honorees.
- Lucy Feldman led the conversational keynote with Hargitay.
What comes next
Audiences can expect further screenings of My Mom Jayne. The Joyful Heart Foundation plans additional advocacy campaigns.
Hargitay’s platform will likely remain focused on survivor visibility and criminal justice reform. Her creative projects will continue to foreground survivor care and policy change.
