A guy at ABC told me to change my name and get a nose job. I said 'You get a nose job.'

A guy at ABC told me to change my name and get a nose job. I said 'You get a nose job.'

Mariska Hargitay

When I was in my early 20s, I had my hair permed. Bad Idea! It turned into total frizz. My advice to women is: if you have nice hair already, don't get a perm, leave your hair alone.

When I was in my early 20s, I had my hair permed. Bad Idea! It turned into total frizz. My advice to women is: if you have nice hair already, don't get a perm, leave your hair alone.

My Dad taught me that good health is all about living in gratitude.

My Dad taught me that good health is all about living in gratitude.

I'm an L.A. girl who became a tough New York cop.

I'm an L.A. girl who became a tough New York cop.

I was lucky enough to have a father who said, 'Don't quit.' So I just kept going.

I was lucky enough to have a father who said, 'Don't quit.' So I just kept going.

I'm a size 8, and I feel proud of that, because it's healthy. I've never felt compelled to be a skinny actress.

I'm a size 8, and I feel proud of that, because it's healthy. I've never felt compelled to be a skinny actress.

I have a more developed sense of my priorities. Life has so much more meaning now.

I have a more developed sense of my priorities. Life has so much more meaning now.

If you stop for one second and do something, everyone is happy. You pay it forward and it comes back to you twelve-fold.

If you stop for one second and do something, everyone is happy. You pay it forward and it comes back to you twelve-fold.

I look at all the things life has allowed me to do, and I feel like the luckiest person in the world.

I look at all the things life has allowed me to do, and I feel like the luckiest person in the world.

You make sacrifices to become a mother, but you really find yourself and your soul.

You make sacrifices to become a mother, but you really find yourself and your soul.

There's so much that you can get mad about. Out of self-preservation, I focus on being grateful.

There's so much that you can get mad about. Out of self-preservation, I focus on being grateful.

Sometimes things in life happen that allow us to understand our priorities very clearly. Ultimately you can see those as gifts.

Sometimes things in life happen that allow us to understand our priorities very clearly. Ultimately you can see those as gifts.

By coming forward and sharing your story, you don't know the countless lives you change.

By coming forward and sharing your story, you don't know the countless lives you change.

I realize that you have to show up for your life.

I realize that you have to show up for your life.

I think God runs the show. Completely. Life proves it every day: He runs the show.

I think God runs the show. Completely. Life proves it every day: He runs the show.

Humor is about perspective, and hanging out with people who see life through a similar lens is so important.

Humor is about perspective, and hanging out with people who see life through a similar lens is so important.

Adoption was a bumpy ride - very bumpy. But, God, was it worth the fight.

Adoption was a bumpy ride - very bumpy. But, God, was it worth the fight.

When I read the script sometimes, it's like 'Christ! Enough!' I can't sleep at night sometimes. There's the occasional script that just hammers you, that you can't shower off.

When I read the script sometimes, it's like 'Christ! Enough!' I can't sleep at night sometimes. There's the occasional script that just hammers you, that you can't shower off.

When my body is strong, I feel stronger inside. I feel more capable of handling emotional situations. Usually I'm more of a inside-out person, but this was a great case of me from the outside in.

When my body is strong, I feel stronger inside. I feel more capable of handling emotional situations. Usually I'm more of a inside-out person, but this was a great case of me from the outside in.