Mariska Hargitay has opened up about hosting the 2026 Emmy Awards on 14 September, a role she takes on during a particularly busy and adventurous year that has also seen her make her Broadway debut and direct an HBO documentary about her late mother. The 62-year-old, who continues to play Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: SVU" while filming its 28th season, spoke about brainstorming ideas for the ceremony with a team of writers and dismissed suggestions that she should leave the long-running procedural.

Alongside hosting duties, Hargitay is nominated at this year's Emmys for directing and producing "My Mom Jayne", a documentary exploring the legacy of her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield, which she began filming in 2023 while still working on "SVU". She also discussed her devotion to the New York Knicks, including her friendship with player Jalen Brunson, and reflected on balancing multiple creative pursuits — stage performance, documentary filmmaking and live television hosting — within a single year, all while insisting she has no plans to quit her signature role any time soon.