Photo:Martin Schoeller
Martin Schoeller
Mariska Hargitaywasn’t “kitten” around when naming the newest member of her family.
TheLaw & Order: SVUstar welcomedKarma, a Siamese cat, to her family in November, and she tells PEOPLEin this week’s cover storythat coming up with the pet’s name was a breeze.
“Her name was Karma from minute one,” she says. “That was her name.”
Mariska Hargitay’s cat, Karma.Mariska Hargitay/instagram
Mariska Hargitay/instagram
“It was a no-brainer,” she says. “It just felt so right, and my daughter wasn’t having it any other way.”
Beyond the fact that bothHargitay and Amaya are dedicated Swifties(they attended the Eras Tour twice over the summer and went to the concert film premiere together in October), naming the feline in honor of the pop icon had another connection.
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In 2014, Swift namedone of her Scottish fold cats Olivia Bensonafter Hargitay’s character onLaw & Order: SVU. Hargitay also appeared in Swift’s"Bad Blood" music videothe following year.
“I mean, it’s so like, ‘Wait, what? Taylor Swift named her cat after my character?'” recalls Hargitay of when she first heard the news. “And I was so honored because Olivia Benson’s awesome, but also that it resonated with [Taylor]. It was meaningful to me.”
Returning the favor “only seemed fitting, fair, and perfect,” Hargitay adds.
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The soundtrack to PEOPLE’s cover shoot naturally featured lots of Swift — including “Karma.”
“Can we superimpose my cat?” joked Hargitay as she sat on the kitchen counter and motioned to the open space beside her.
“Karma is a Cat @taylorswift Meet Karma. My Cat.🐱 #MeAndKarmaVibeLikeThat #AndIKeepMySideOfMyPawClean #KarmaIsACat,” Hargitay captioned her post in November introducing the feline, which included references to the song’s lyrics.Swift herself couldn’t help but respond.
“Are you serious?!!!! Nothing has ever come more full circle ⭕️ LOVE THIS SO MUCH!! 😻” the singer-songwriter commented.
For more on Mariska Hargitay, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribehere.
Reflecting on the sweet note from Swift, Hargitay smiles.
“Yeah,” she says, “that wasreallycool.”
source: people.com
