The NCIS Star Who's Good Friends With Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay is arguably a boss. She has played the iconic Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: Special Victims' Unit" since the show's inception and she's equally impressive in real life. The actor has a busy career, a thriving home life as a mother and wife, and she gives back to others. Hargitay, inspired by the abysmal abuse statistics she learned in her role as a detective on "SVU," founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, a non-profit which focuses on ending abuse of all kinds and helping survivors, in 2004. As her show grew in popularity, Hargitay received thousands of letters from victims of sexual assault and abuse, and she felt compelled to take action and help.

Hargitay's character inspires people, too. In May, TODAY reported that an 11-year-old Florida girl fought and escaped a kidnapper because of things she learned watching Olivia Benson on "SVU." The girl told TODAY, "I just feel proud of myself." Hargitay responded to the news on Instagram, posting an image of the headline, and writing, "Alyssa, first and most important, I am so relieved and grateful to know that you are safe. And I am so honored to be part of your incredible story. You are one BRAVE, Strong and Smart young woman ... With all my love, your number one fan, Mariska."

Who wouldn't want to be friends with Hargitay? But you will never guess which "NCIS" actor is actually good friends with the "SVU" star!

Mariska Hargitay counts former "NCIS" star Maria Bello as a close friend. The "Law & Order: SVU" star and Bello's friendship spans more than two decades, and the two actors have seemingly supported each other through thick and thin since meeting in 1997, when they both appeared on NBC's hit TV series, "ER" (per Forbes).

In 2013, InStyle reported on Hargitay's non-profit, the Joyful Heart Foundation. Bello told InStyle that her friend "has inspired victims of sexual violence to stand up and tell their story, which has rarely been done, I am very inspired by her and proud." Pride reported that Bello helped give the "Law & Order: SVU" actor a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013. And, in 2015, when Bello's book "Whatever...Love Is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves" came out, Hargitay was right beside her, per HuffPost. But the friendship between the "Coyote Ugly" star and Hargitay wasn't always easy.

In 2007, Hargitay told Glamour (via E! News), "I have all these amazing friends — Hilary Swank, Carrie-Anne Moss, Maria Bello. About 10 years ago, they were all just hitting it, movie after movie after movie. I loved these women, but I couldn't help but feel like the loser of the group," Hargitay explained. "But one thing my dad taught me was, there's only one person to compete with — yourself."

Mariska Hargitay and Maria Bello also appear to have a fun group of pals, including Debra Messing, Ali Wentworth, Hilary Swank, and Carrie-Anne Moss. Bello is the godmother of "The Matrix" star's oldest son, and Moss is the godmother of Bello's son, per IMDb. In 2012, Hargitay told Good Housekeeping that she appreciates her friends, including Bello, Messing, and Wentworth, as their "advice, empathy, and sheer silliness" were a "godsend" for the "Law & Order: SVU" actor when she adopted her daughter Amaya and son Andrew. ""No matter where you find yourself in life, there's always a friend who has gone through pretty much the same thing," Hargitay said. 

"[M]y friends are all so incredibly loving and hilarious; I inevitably end up laughing when I talk to them. I would say in that department; I am a very lucky girl," she added.

Hargitay and her husband Peter Hermann were married in 2004 and welcomed son August into the world in 2006. In another Good Housekeeping interview, from 2010, Hargitay revealed that technology allows her, Bello, and Messing to stay connected, as Hargitay instigated the group's "Happy Monday" e-mail, where the women share photos of their children. Honestly, we'd love to be part of this circle of strong, successful women, too!