Mariska Hargitay Reveals What Jalen Brunson Said To Her After Knicks ECF Win: ‘Inspired By Him’

Mariska Hargitay is taking over the theater stage! On Tuesday, June 2, the “Law and Order: SVU” star chatted exclusively with Access Hollywood ahead of her Broadway debut in “Every Brilliant Thing” where she detailed her excitement about her latest role. “It’s been exercising a whole new muscle. There’s been absolutely nothing familiar about this from what I have been doing for the last 27 years, so that’s been very exciting,” she said in part, adding, “I don’t even have the words to express how beautiful and tender and what a lovely journey it’s been. Beyond my wildest dreams, really.” Hargitay went on to share that while she may have to miss being courtside for some of the NBA finals games featuring the New York Knicks, she’ll still make time to watch along. Hargitay additionally revealed that team captain and close friend Jalen Brunson told her, when the two hugged after the Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, that he’ll be making his way to see her in the play. “Jalen, the last game that I went to, when I went on the court to congratulate him, I was telling him how great it was, and he grabbed me by the shoulders and said, ‘I’ll be there.’ That’s how extraordinary he is, that that’s what he said to me. And I was like, ‘Wait, what?’ He’s switching gears on me going, ‘I’ll be there,’” she said, adding, “I love him, and I’m so inspired by him. I’ve carried his spirit with me during this.” Plus, the Emmy award winning actress shared how working on the production has made her feel even closer to late mom Jayne Mansfield, who also starred on Broadway in 1955-1956. “I absolutely do,” Hargitay said in part, before noting that she has her mother’s “Broadway’s Rising Star” award from 1955 in her dressing room. “Every Brilliant Thing” tickets are on sale now.