All aspects of life that I look around, I`m very thankful to be standing where I am.

All aspects of life that I look around, I`m very thankful to be standing where I am.

Mariska has her own foundation. She helps with survivors of sexual abuse - they go swimming with wild dolphins. on Mariska Hargitay

When it`s mid-February, and it`s bitterly cold outside, I am really glad that I`m not working in construction anymore.

A city like New York has clashing cultures and clashing ideas and big ideas, but these sorts of things weren`t being thrown in the air and bandied about where I came from.

I didn`t get into acting to be a public service announcer or an advocate and yet, by virtue of this show and how we handle the subject matter that we`ve been given, that`s kind of how it`s evolved in certain ways.

(On whether or not he`s sick of talking about his "Oz" (1997) co-star, Lee Tergesen): "Talking about Lee is like eating a big fat chocolate sundae. I know it`s bad for me, but I can`t help myself. I catch myself doing it all the time, or dreaming about it. I`m trying to quit cause it`s ruining my girlish figure and I can`t fit into any of my clothes the way I used to...".