Mariska Hargitay will be making her debut next month as host of the Emmy Awards.
Not only will that mark the first time the beloved “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” has hosted the illustrious award gala, she’s also the first woman to host the show since “Glee” alum Jane Lynch hosted back in 2011.
However, when Hargitay picked up the phone call revealing her invitation to host, she initially feared the call was about something else entirely.
‘I Thought She Was Kidding’
On Thursday, August 13, Harigtay appeared on NBC’s “Today,” where she recounted receiving that phone call while interviewed by Savannah Guthrie.
“I was backstage, doing my play, and I got a call,” Hargitay recalled.
“It was Pearlena [Igbokwe], who’s head of the network, and I thought, ‘Oh, I should answer this. Am I getting fired?’” she added.
However, the invite to host the Emmys came so out of left field that Hargitay admitted it took awhile before it actually sunk in.
“She asked me about it, and at first, I thought she was kidding,” Hargitay told Guthrie.
“I actually thought she was kidding,” she added. “It took me a while to process it.”
Why Hargitay?
According to Hargitay, she initially “couldn’t understand” why she’d been chosen to host the Emmys.
As she explained, she found it odd “because I thought, ‘I’m not a comedian, and it’s historically comedians.’”
Admittedly, she was taken aback. “It was probably the farthest thing from my mind that I thought she was gonna say, so I actually was kind of shocked,” she revealed.
“But I said, ‘Listen, I’m about to go on [stage]. Let me think about it.’”
When she did have time to consider the offer, she saw it as an opportunity to embrace a new challenge that would push her out of her comfort zone.
“I thought about it over the weekend, and then I started going, ‘Why not?’ which is where I kind of am in my life,” Hargitay explained
Historical Significance
When speaking with Guthrie, Hargitay acknowledged that it had not been lost on her that she was the first woman to take on Emmy hosting duties since Lynch’s hosting stint back in 2011.
Admitting she was “incredibly honored,” Hargitay added, “Knowing [I am] the first woman in 15 years [to host], it was absolutely thrilling.”
‘A Great Honor’
After the announcement, Hargitay issued a statement to Variety.
“Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career,” Hargitay said.
“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,” her statemet continued.
“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,” she added.
Also a Nominee
Not only is Hargitay host of the 2026 Emmys, she’s also a nominee.
In her capacity of first-time director, her HBO documentary “My Mom Jayne” — about her late mother, Jayne Mansfield — received three Emmy nominations.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sunday, September 14 on NBC.
