‘SVU’ star Mariska Hargitay to be first female Emmys host in 15 years

“Law and Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay is set to be the first female host of the Emmys in 15 years.

The Television Academy announced in a press release on Tuesday that Hargitay is hosting the Emmys, which will happen on Sep. 14.

“Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career. It’s my great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards — in the 100th birthday year of my beloved NBC — and celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers,” Hargitay said in a statement in the release.

“Whether it’s an actor or a director, a costumer or a sound designer, we are all so privileged to take part in creating television that unites us. Regardless of how, where or when we watch, we are together in our laughter, our tears, our love of stories — and our delighted anticipation to see what happens next.”

According to Variety, Hargitay, who has starred as Captain Olivia Benson on “SVU” since 1999, is set to be the first female Emmys host since “Glee” star Jane Lynch hosted in 2011.

Hargitay has a history of anti-domestic violence and anti-sexual assault activism, speaking about domestic abuse at the White House alongside former President Obama and then-Vice President Joe Biden in 2010.

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