Mariska Hargitay, 62, won two Creative Arts Emmys on September 5 for her self-directed documentary ‘My Mom Jayne,’ which explores her relationship with her late mother, actress Jayne Mansfield. Hargitay shared a photo of herself holding two Emmys and wearing a red outfit on Instagram, which has 3.8 million followers — the documentary was a hit at the 2026 awards.

Unconventional Hosting Approach

Hargitay will host the 78th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, marking her as the first woman to host the event in 15 years. She has worked on her hosting script with the team from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which ended its 33-year run in May, as In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on September 10, she said, ‘I’m a very different, unconventional host. I’m not a comedian, so we’re not trying to do that; You have to be yourself in your best version.’ According to Salon.com, this unconventional approach has been criticized by some as a ‘crime against TV.’

Collaboration with Taylor Swift

During the 78th Emmy Awards, Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance in a pre-recorded sketch with Hargitay, the sketch featured Swift’s cat, Olivia Benson, named after Hargitay’s character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The sketch included several Easter eggs and a crime board with references to Swift’s re-recorded albums, According to Rolling Stone, the sketch highlighted the way Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, turn every detail into a clue about her next move. HOLA reported that Swift played a detective in the sketch alongside Hargitay, who played Olivia Benson, while the sketch also featured actors from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, including Kelli Giddish, Peter Scaravino, and Ice-T.

Personal Reflections and Hosting Style

Hargitay has also reflected on her personal life; According to Promiflash, she raved about Taylor Swift’s July 3, 2026, wedding to Travis Kelce in New York City. She described the event as ‘so spectacular and so intimate,’ emphasizing the emotional vows Taylor and Travis exchanged; Hargitay was surprised by how personal and intimate the wedding felt despite the large guest list and the venue, Madison Square Garden. She said, ‘I was overwhelmed, because when there is a wedding with so many guests, you think, ‘Oh, okay, that’s how it will be.’ But it was not like that at all.’

Despite the mixed reactions to her hosting style, Hargitay remains committed to her approach, she believes in being authentic and has no interest in conforming to traditional hosting expectations. According to Salon.com, this approach has led to criticism, particularly after two song-and-dance numbers that were poorly received, However, Hargitay maintains that her style is a reflection of who she is and how she wants to present herself to the audience.

The 78th Emmy Awards will be a significant event for Hargitay, who has already achieved considerable success with her documentary and her recent Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated play ‘Every Brilliant Thing.’