Did You Know Mariska Hargitay Met Husband Peter Hermann on the Set of 'SVU'?

For 26 years, fans of Law and Order: SVU have seen Mariska Hargitay slay the TV game as Captain Olivia Benson. As the show continues to see incredible success and maintain a devoted fan base, Mariska is lucky the show gave her another special relationship — one with her husband of 20 years, Peter Hermann.

If we look at Mariska and Peter's relationship like a case, we need to start at the beginning. The twosome first met in early 2002 on the set of Law and Order: SVU. At the time, the show was in its third season and Peter was brought on to portray a defense attorney in a guest starring role. When speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show about their meet-cute in January 2022, Mariska revealed she thought Peter was one of the best looking men she'd ever seen.

"[I thought], 'Who is that Clark Gable, Superman guy that I need to marry today?'' she joked at the time. "I was nervous because I heard he was German and I didn't know what do to."

After Peter's time on SVU ended, he surprised Mariska by asking her out on a date. But what really shocked Mariska was their first date happened at a church service. Although it didn't seem like the most romantic place to begin a relationship, Mariska realized that this was the man for her.

"We went to church together, and it was like getting hit with a lightning bolt," she told People in June 2019. "I just started sobbing. Peter thought I was crying because I was so moved by the service. No, it was because I was just overwhelmed, realizing he was the one."

Well, it looks like her wish came true, as she and Peter tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in August 2004. Two years later, the couple got an amazing gift when they welcomed their first son, August, in June 2006.

"Nobody wanted to be pregnant more than me," Mariska told SELF magazine (per People) in 2007. "From the minute I found out, I was wearing full-on maternity pants. My stomach was totally flat, mind you, but I was just so excited."

As Mariska and Peter continued balancing their careers with being first-time parents, they decided they wanted to expand their family. The couple chose the adoption route, welcoming two children by the end of 2011. In April of that year, Mariska and Peter brought home their daughter Amaya, and six months later in October adopted their youngest son, Andrew.

"We never in a million years thought it would happen this quickly, but something inside of us knew that this was right, and we said, 'Yes, yes, yes!'" Mariska shared about adopting two children so close together. "We knew [Andrew] was our guy. Everything about it felt right. It felt divinely right."

Although Mariska is quiet about life with Peter and their kids online, the two love to show up for one another at various public events. The couple can often be seen together at TV premieres, charity galas and awards shows. What's more, the pair certainly knows how to celebrate each other's wins, as folks witnessed when Peter congratulated Mariska for filming 500 episodes of SVU back in 2021.

"You astonish me," Peter paid tribute to Mariska on X (formerly Twitter) at the time. "We met in episode 54. Best 447 episodes of my life. Congratulations, you beautiful life force. I love you."

So, what is the secret to Mariska and Peter's long-standing marriage? According to Mariska, it has to do with loving the way things are and being able to have someone by her side through life's ups and downs.

"My husband is my North Star, and my kids are my teachers," she told People in March 2018. "Our family is so perfect, or at least perfect for me. Together we’re just this whole, happy, joyful, chaotic, crazy unit. I’ve never known anything that was more right."

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