Mariska Hargitay Gave the Most Heartfelt Speech at the People's Choice Awards

Mariska Hargitay took home the 2022 People's Choice Award for Drama TV Star of 2022 for her role in  Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. And, as always, she gave a beautiful, heartfelt speech that may just make you cry. 

"What an unbelievable honor this is," she said to the audience. "I have to say I'm honored for a few reasons, but one of them is because I have such a different and special connection with my people. With my fans. It's such a deep and intimate and personal connection because we all carry so much. Thank you for this."

Captain Olivia Benson continued, "I love this award so much because of the two words in it. These two very, very important words that make this experience of life so extraordinary. ...'People,' and that's people from all origins, ethnicities, creeds, gender, identities, that make this whole glorious mix of all of us that is the human race...And the second word that's even more important is 'Choice.' So I just want to celebrate our ability in all of us, the willingness in all of us, to choose kindness and compassion and courage and to choose to listen and to learn and to build a bridge between our differences and our divides. That's more important than ever right now."

Truer words have never been spoken. Congratulations to Mariska Hargitay!

Want more Benson after watching the PCAs? Check out Law & Order: SVU on NBC Thursdays at 9/8c and next day on Peacock.