Mariska Hargitay helps the DA solve sexual assault cases

Talk about inspired method acting.

Law and Order: SVUhis Mariska Hargitaywho plays Olivia Benson, the commander of a fictional Special Victims Unit in New York City, was instrumental in investigating “over 11,000” sexual assault cases in Detroit, Michigan.

The turn of events, to be explored on the Thursday, Aug. 15 episode of the news podcast Dateline True Crime Weekly, saw Hargitay, 60, finance a prosecutor’s mission, Kym Worthywhich discovered more than 11,000 untested rape kits sitting on a shelf in a police evidence room.

Andrea Canninga Canadian The date line journalist and podcast host, shared details about the upcoming podcast episode on Today show on Tuesday, August 13. “They found 22 serial rapists among these kits … and they needed money for this effort, so who stepped in? None other than Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order,” Canning, 51, said. “She helped them raise the money to do this and it has a ripple effect across the country. It’s making changes everywhere, from police departments to prosecutors.”

The news comes seven months after Hargitay bravely spoke out about her personal experience with sexual assault, writing a powerful essay for People which was published on January 10.

“A man raped me in my thirties,” Hargitay wrote in the essay. “It wasn’t sexual at all. It was dominance and control. Overwhelming control.” Hargitay revealed that her attacker was “a friend”.

“I tried every way I knew how to get rid of it. I tried to make jokes, to be charming, to set a boundary, to reason, to say no. He grabbed my arms and held me down. I was terrified. I didn’t want it to escalate to violence,” the actress wrote. “Now I know it was already sexual violence, but I was afraid it would become physically violent. I went into freeze mode, a common response to trauma when there is no escape option. I checked my body.”

Through her role as Benson — a character she’s played since 1999 — Hargitay has been able to connect with several survivors of sexual assault. In 2004, she also created the Joyful Heart Foundation, which aims to “transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, support the healing of survivors and end this violence forever”.

Related: Stars Who Left ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’: Where Are They Now?

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has come on strong since 1999, but not all of its major characters have stuck around for its long run. In fact, the only original cast member left from the show’s first season is Mariska Hargitay, whose character started out as Detective Olivia Benson and has since become Captain (…)

Art continued to imitate Hargitay’s life in April of this year, when Hargitay was mistaken by a girl for a real-life police officer while filming scenes for Law and Order: SVU in New York.

A witness said People at the time a “little girl” was separated from her mother in Fort Tryon Park’s Anne Loftus Playground and “called Hargitay for help.” Hargitay halted production of the show for 20 minutes to help locate the child’s mother and “comfort” them both.

If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, call the National Sexual Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, non-judgmental support as well as local resources to help with healing, recovery and more.