Mariska Hargitay to Host 78th Primetime Emmy Awards

Mariska Hargitay will host the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, marking her first time leading the TV awards ceremony, NBC announced.

The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star recently finished her Broadway debut in Every Brilliant Thing. In a statement, Hargitay said she is honored to celebrate television and the people who create it during NBC's 100th anniversary year.

Hargitay has starred as Olivia Benson on SVU since the show began and won an Emmy in 2006 for the role. She is also an executive producer and director on the series, which will begin its 28th season this fall.

She is also in contention for an Emmy this year for her directorial debut, My Mom Jayne, a documentary about her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield.

The Emmy nominations will be announced on Wednesday. The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.