‘Law & Order: SVU’ star Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann at Joy Rocks
The event: Mariska Hargitay, who stars as Det. Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and is founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation, hosted a fundraiser on Thursday for the nonprofit — which assists survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and child abuse — and celebrated the actress’ public service announcements for the No More campaign.
The vibe: The invitations for Joy Rocks read “casual chic,” and Hargitay dressed the part in a bejeweled blouse by Dana Lorenz of the punk-glam jewelry lines Fenton and Fallon, J Brand jeans, an Yves St. Laurent tuxedo jacket and Lanvin shoes. Actor Peter Hermann, Hargitay’s husband and the evening’s emcee, wore a three-piece suit, sans tie. The mood was celebratory, and tables were decorated with bowls of tissue paper confetti, which Hargitay instructed the partygoers to throw in the air. Though the cause is deadly serious, Hargitay, who has testified before Congress on such crucial issues as unblocking the backlog of untested rape kits, had a lighter moment: “It was very eye-opening,” she said of her work so enthusiastically that she quickly acknowledged: “Oh, my God, I just sounded like Christopher Walken.”
Familiar faces: “SVU” alums, big- and small-screen stars, industry figures and Joyful Heart supporters, including actors Chris Meloni, Hilary Swank, Maria Bello, Marcia Gay Harden, Rosanna and Patricia Arquette, Joely Fisher, Christa Miller, Nia Vardalos, Ian Gomez, Orlando Jones, Camryn Manheim, Aubrey Plaza and Kiernan Shipka. Tatooed “Top Chef” brothers Bryan and Michael Voltaggio of the L.A. restaurant Ink auctioned off two private dinners for $75,000.
Also in the house: Photographer Timothy White, Joyful Heart CEO Maile Zambuto, “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf and former “SVU” producer Neal Baer, who is now executive producer of “Under the Dome,” and Pat Loud, author and original reality TV mom. Samantha Ronson spun the tunes and singer-songwriter Elle King played a short set, accompanying herself on a matte black folk guitar and banjo. (“I’m obsessed with ‘SVU,’ ” said King, “so when I was asked I said yes, yes, yes.”)
The venue: Hollywood’s Milk Studios, where earlier this year first-time director Hargitay created the powerful No More spots with a cast of more than 50 public figures including Amy Poehler, Ice-T, Katie Couric and Tim Gunn.
Quote of note: “Our goal tonight,” said host Peter Hermann, “is to leave you informed, deeply inspired and a little less rich.” Mission accomplished: Joyful Heart raised $700,000.
And a side note: “My mom was a therapist who dealt with a lot of traumatized people,” said supporter Patricia Arquette, after pledging funds to a Joyful Heart program that provides support to caseworkers. “I love the idea of helping to heal the healers.”
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