You’ve seen her as the iron-willed Olivia Benson for over two decades. But if you rewind the clock to 1999—just months before Law & Order: Special Victims Unit changed television history—you'll find a version of Mariska Hargitay that most modern fans don't even recognize.
She was in a creature feature.
Honestly, seeing Mariska Hargitay in Lake Placid is a bit of a trip for anyone who only knows her as the patron saint of N.Y.C. survivors. In this cult classic horror-comedy about a giant, cow-eating crocodile in Maine, she doesn't play a detective. She plays Myra Okubo.
It’s a small role. Blink and you might miss her, yet it remains a fascinating bridge between her "struggling actress" years and her status as a global icon. People often forget that before she was winning Emmys, she was navigating the weird, wonderful world of 90s genre cinema.
The Role of Myra Okubo Explained
So, what exactly does she do in the movie?
📖 Related: Us Weekly Celebrity News: What Really Happened This Week
In Lake Placid, Mariska plays a member of the research team working alongside Bill Pullman’s character, Jack Wells. She’s part of the initial expedition investigating the mysterious, violent death of a Fish and Wildlife officer.
The vibe is very different from the dark, procedural intensity of SVU. She’s younger, her energy is lighter, and she’s mostly there to provide technical support before the "big bad"—a 30-foot prehistoric crocodile—really starts making a mess of the local population.
Why the Movie Still Matters in 2026
Even now, decades later, Lake Placid holds up as a masterclass in tone. It was written by David E. Kelley (the guy behind Ally McBeal and Big Little Lies), so the dialogue is snappy and weird.
- The Cast: You’ve got Betty White feeding cows to a giant reptile.
- The Practical Effects: Stan Winston’s team built a literal animatronic monster that still looks better than most CGI today.
- The Pivot: For Mariska, this was one of her final film roles before Benson took over her life.
It's kinda wild to think that while she was filming scenes on a lake in British Columbia (standing in for Maine), she was on the verge of becoming the longest-running character in primetime drama history. Basically, Lake Placid was the calm before the Benson storm.
A Career Before the Badge
Most people assume Mariska Hargitay just appeared out of nowhere in 1999. In reality, her resume before Lake Placid was a chaotic mix of 80s cheese and 90s sitcoms.
She was in Ghoulies. She played a character named Joey in Welcome to 18. She even had a stint on ER as Cynthia Hooper, a desk clerk who dated Mark Greene.
✨ Don't miss: Is Annie Mae Weiss Married? What Really Happened With the Fox 5 Star
But Mariska Hargitay in Lake Placid represents a specific moment in time. It was a high-budget studio film with a stellar cast. Oliver Platt and Brendan Gleeson were trading insults while Mariska was holding clipboards and looking concerned about lake safety.
The Misconception About Her "Big Break"
Some fans think Lake Placid was her breakout. It wasn't.
It was more of a "solid paycheck" gig that kept her in the industry's eye. The real shift happened when she walked into the audition room for Dick Wolf. She has often spoken about how she felt a cosmic connection to the role of Olivia Benson the moment she read the script.
If she hadn't done movies like Lake Placid, would she have had the seasoned presence required to lead a show like SVU? Probably not. Every role, no matter how small, builds that muscle.
The Lake Placid Legacy and Future Projects
Interestingly, Mariska has been looking back at her career a lot lately. In late 2025, she released her self-directed HBO documentary, My Mom Jayne, which explored the legacy of her mother, Jayne Mansfield.
While that project is deeply personal and serious, it has reignited interest in her earlier filmography. Fans are going back and realizing that Mariska has always had range. She can do the campy horror stuff just as well as the "ripped from the headlines" drama.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're a Mariska completionist, here is how to handle the Lake Placid experience:
- Watch for the Chemistry: Pay attention to how she interacts with Bill Pullman. Even in a minor role, her screen presence is undeniable.
- Don't Expect SVU: If you go in expecting Olivia Benson, you'll be disappointed. This is Mariska having fun in a summer blockbuster.
- Look for the 90s Aesthetic: The fashion and the pacing are a total time capsule.
The film is currently streaming on several platforms, and it remains a staple for "bad movie" nights that are actually good. Mariska's involvement is just the icing on the cake.
Moving Forward With Mariska
As we move through 2026, Mariska Hargitay isn't slowing down. Between SVU Season 27 and her continued advocacy work with the Joyful Heart Foundation, her plate is full. But taking a moment to appreciate her role in Lake Placid is a great way to see how far she's come.
🔗 Read more: Is Mark Consuelos a Democrat or Republican? What the Live Star Actually Thinks
It’s a reminder that even the biggest stars had to start somewhere—sometimes that "somewhere" involves a giant crocodile and a very worried research assistant.
Next Steps for You: Check your local streaming listings for Lake Placid to see Mariska’s performance for yourself. If you've already seen it, look for her 1991 film The Perfect Weapon or her 1995 cameo in Leaving Las Vegas to get a full picture of her pre-Benson evolution.