NEED TO KNOW
- Mariska Hargitay praised Taylor Swift while recalling her experience working on the Grammy-winning singer’s “Bad Blood” music video in 2015
- The Law & Order: SVU star said Swift was “warm and smart and kind and such a boss lady”
- The pair has a long-standing friendship, and even named their cats after each other
Mariska Hargitay has nothing but praise for Taylor Swift.
During an appearance on Call Her Daddy, the Law & Order: SVU star, 61, recalled starring alongside Swift, 35, in the Grammy-winning singer’s “Bad Blood” music video released in 2015.
“It was so fun. It’s the best music video,” she said of the video, which features an all-star cast including Selena Gomez, Lena Dunham, Hailee Steinfeld, Gigi Hadid, Hayley Williams, Zendaya, Karlie Kloss, Ellen Pompeo and more.
The actress shared that she loved joining the cast at the MTV Video Awards the same year, saying, “That was the most fun, being in the squad with all the cool girls and supermodels. It was the most fun ever.”
Hargitay said filming the music video was “so great” before praising Swift.
“She was just warm and smart and kind and such a boss lady,” she said of Swift.
“I learned so much from her,” she continued. “That’s what I love about her is [that] she’s so young, but she shows us in such beautiful ways how to be fearless and a boss lady.”
When asked if she would ever star in another music video, Hargitay teased, “If Tay Tay asked me. I’m hoping I’m standing by for Taylor. I only do Taylor Swift videos now.”
She joked, “I’ve hit the big time.”
In November 2024, Hargitay also shared her appreciation of Swift during a photoshoot with PEOPLE, saying, “I love Taylor Swift so much. I love what she stands for. I love her music. It’s been an anthem for all ages. I think she is a magnificent creature on this planet and such an important cultural soul.”
Hargitay and Swift have taken their friendship to the next level by naming their cats after each other.
In 2014, the singer-songwriter named her Scottish fold cat Olivia Benson after Harigaty’s beloved Law & Order: SVU character.
Hargitay returned the favor when her cat Karma joined the family in November 2023.
The family — including her husband Peter Hermann and their kids, August, Amaya, and Andrew — named the kitten Karma after Swift’s song from her Midnights album.
“Karma is a Cat @taylorswift Meet Karma. My Cat.🐱 #MeAndKarmaVibeLikeThat #AndIKeepMySideOfMyPawClean #KarmaIsACat,” Hargitay captioned her post in November 2023 to introduce the feline, which included references to the song’s lyrics. Swift herself couldn’t help but respond.
“Are you serious?!!!! Nothing has ever come more full circle ⭕️ LOVE THIS SO MUCH!! 😻” she commented.
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“It was a no-brainer,” the actress later told PEOPLE of the cat’s name. “It just felt so right, and my daughter wasn’t having it any other way.”
Hargitay added that she was thrilled that Swift named her cat after her beloved character, saying, “I mean, it’s so like, ‘Wait, what? Taylor Swift named her cat after my character?’ And I was so honored because Olivia Benson’s awesome, but also that it resonated with [Taylor]. It was meaningful to me.”
Returning the favor “only seemed fitting, fair, and perfect,” Hargitay added.
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