Mariska Hargitay and Jamie Lee Curtis share the funniest take on being 'dated' in showbiz

Mariska Hargitay and Jamie Lee Curtis turn Variety’s Actors On Actors into a playful riff on being dated, proving their charm—and chemistry—are timeless.

Variety sat Mariska Hargitay and Jamie Lee Curtis down for an Actors on Actors chat, and the vibe was exactly what you want from two pros who have nothing to prove: warm, candid, and very ready to clown on themselves. Yes, there were thoughtful career stories and industry talk. Also yes, they absolutely lost it over the word 'showbiz.'

Two icons, one perfect bit

Actors on Actors has a history of heavyweight pairings (Leonardo DiCaprio with Jennifer Lawrence, Sydney Sweeney with Ethan Hawke), so putting Hargitay and Curtis together was always going to hit. Early on, Curtis casually says 'showbiz,' and Hargitay immediately pounces, teasing her like only a friend can. She leans in with a stage whisper, pretending to hide from the camera, and drops the line that cracked them both up:

'It dates us!'

Curtis fires back without missing a beat, pointing to her face and joking that this is what actually makes someone look 'dated' before declaring that, yes, they are both 'dated.' High-five, laughter, done. It is the kind of quick, self-aware exchange that tells you everything about why these two have lasted: they know the game and do not mind poking fun at it. Variety pushed the clip on June 15, 2026, and flagged that you can stream the full episode on the CNN app if you want the whole conversation.

Where they are right now

Curtis just turned up in the political comedy- drama Ella McCay. Hargitay, meanwhile, continues to anchor NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which is still the longest-running primetime live-action drama on TV. She also stepped behind the camera for the first time with her 2025 documentary My Mom Jayne.

And then Mariska went courtside

Because her year is apparently a highlight reel, Hargitay also hit Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. She called the night one for the permanent memory bank:

'I feel so lucky, so honored, so grateful, that in the future when people talk about that game, which they will forever and ever, I get to say I was there.'

She was courtside with Taylor Swift, celebrated the Knicks win, and even switched into a blue-and-orange 'Stevie Knicks' T-shirt during the game. The tee was reportedly a gift from Swift that night, and Hargitay matched the look with the Haim sisters thanks to a shirt made by Alana Haim. A very specific New York pop-culture moment, executed flawlessly.

Bottom line

Call them 'dated' if you want; both Hargitay and Curtis are very much still running the table. The Actors on Actors episode delivers the goods — smart, funny, and unpretentious — while Hargitay keeps stacking wins on and off the set.