When Mariska Hargitay walks into Carnegie Hall on June 13, the moment will represent far more than a red carpet debut or a career milestone. It will be a homecoming, a cathartic release, and the grand reveal of a story she has carried silently for decades.
For years, the Emmy-winning star of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has been known to millions as the unwavering Olivia Benson, a character built on justice, strength, and empathy. But behind the scenes, Hargitay has been on a journey just as powerful as any crime drama plotline—one of rediscovery, reconciliation, and emotional reckoning. Now, she’s ready to share it with the world.
Her directorial debut, My Mom Jayne, is more than a documentary. It’s a soul-searching exploration into the life and myth of her late mother, Jayne Mansfield, the 1950s blonde bombshell whose legacy has often been reduced to tabloid headlines and tragic endings. But this time, the story is told by those who knew her best—her children.
Jayne Mansfield’s death in 1967 is a moment frozen in Hollywood lore. She was just 34 when her car collided with a truck on a dark Louisiana highway. Three of her children—Mariska, then only three years old, and her brothers Mickey Jr. and Zoltan—were asleep in the backseat and miraculously survived.
But the crash took more than just a beloved icon. For Mariska Hargitay, it marked the start of a life built on fragmented memories and unanswered questions. “I have no memory of my mother,” Hargitay said in a recent interview. “But I have always felt her presence.”
For years, she avoided diving too deeply into her mother’s legacy. The wounds were too raw, the myths too tangled. But as time passed, the need for understanding—and healing—grew louder. My Mom Jayne is the result of that journey.
Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival before its HBO debut on June 27, the documentary offers a poignant portrait of Mansfield as told by her five children, some speaking publicly for the first time. The film had its world premiere at Cannes in May, earning critical acclaim and international attention.
My Mom Jayne is as much about family as it is about fame. For the first time, all five of Mansfield’s children come together in one narrative: Mickey Hargitay Jr., Zoltan Hargitay, Jayne Marie Mansfield, Anthony Cimber, and Mariska herself.
The film captures the warmth, humor, and emotional vulnerability of these siblings—each shaped differently by Mansfield’s legacy. They recall childhood memories inside the infamous Pink Palace, Mansfield’s heart-shaped pool, and the wild animals that roamed their yard. They speak candidly about the struggles and joys of growing up in the shadow of one of Hollywood’s most misunderstood stars.
“It was about honoring my mother,” Hargitay says. “But it was also about understanding her. And for me, that meant understanding the people who knew her best—my siblings.”
Some of those siblings hadn’t appeared on camera before. Anthony Cimber, the youngest, was born during Mansfield’s third marriage to Italian director Matt Cimber. Jayne Marie Mansfield, the eldest, came from Jayne’s first marriage to Paul Mansfield. Bringing them together, physically and emotionally, was no small feat—but it became one of the film’s most profound achievements.
One of the most talked-about elements of My Mom Jayne is a revelation Hargitay kept private for more than three decades: the identity of her biological father.
Though she was raised by Mickey Hargitay—a bodybuilder, actor, and loving father who remained a bedrock in her life—rumors swirled for years in Hollywood that someone else might be her biological parent. That man was Nelson Sardelli, a Las Vegas singer and entertainer who had a romantic relationship with Mansfield during her separation from Mickey in 1963.
Mariska was born in January 1964, after her parents had reconciled. But whispers persisted, including in a tell-all book written by Jayne’s former publicist, Rusty Strait. Still, Hargitay stayed silent. Until now.
In the film, Hargitay details a deeply personal journey of discovery and acceptance. She recounts a dramatic confrontation with Sardelli in Atlantic City nearly 30 years ago—one that ended not in estrangement, but in a quiet, private truce. The two agreed to keep the truth between them. Now, with the documentary, the secret is out.
And with that revelation comes a new branch of Hargitay’s family tree: half-sisters Giovanna and Pietra Sardelli, Nelson’s daughters from his longtime marriage to Fledia. They appear in the film, embracing their newly defined sister not just with warmth, but with pride.
“It’s like this weight was lifted,” Hargitay said. “There’s this sense of integration and peace. These heartstrings that connect us—somehow, it all makes sense now.”
The My Mom Jayne premiere at Carnegie Hall promises to be one of the most emotional and anticipated events of the Tribeca Film Festival. Following the screening, a live panel discussion will feature Hargitay and members of her extended family, allowing audiences a rare window into a healing process decades in the making.
Hargitay’s husband, actor Peter Hermann—whom she met on the set of SVU—will be by her side, along with their three children: Miklós Friedrich, Amaya Josephine, and Andrew Nicolas.
Also attending in support are her SVU co-stars, including longtime collaborator Ice-T and the beloved Christopher Meloni, whose on-screen chemistry with Hargitay helped define one of TV’s most enduring partnerships. Celebrities like Jon Hamm, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Brooke Shields are also expected to be in the audience.
But the real stars of the evening will be the family—some familiar, some newly discovered—gathered not in grief, but in unity.
My Mom Jayne isn’t just a documentary; it’s a reclamation. It redefines Jayne Mansfield not as a caricature of Hollywood excess, but as a devoted mother, a complex woman, and a fierce protector of her children.
Through rare home videos, candid interviews, and a deeply introspective narrative, the film sheds light on the vulnerability behind Mansfield’s public persona. It also draws a compelling portrait of Mickey Hargitay, the man who stepped up to raise a grieving child as his own and whose influence continues to shape Mariska’s life to this day.
Hargitay makes her directing debut with clarity, compassion, and courage. She doesn’t flinch from the hard truths—whether confronting a hidden paternity or facing the myths about her mother’s death. Instead, she embraces them all, finding strength in transparency.
“Once you open the door and shed a bit of light on something,” she says, “the beauty that comes from the scariest places is extraordinary.”
In the end, My Mom Jayne is not about scandal or spectacle. It’s about legacy—what we inherit, what we question, and what we choose to carry forward. For Mariska Hargitay, it’s about turning silence into story, and story into strength.
“I’m so excited to share this story and share my gorgeous family, these hearts and souls, with the world,” Hargitay said. “We’ve been through something together. And now, we’re here.”
What was once a fragmented family, defined by separation and secrets, now stands together in solidarity. It’s a reunion not just of people, but of identity.
And for viewers, My Mom Jayne offers something rare in today’s media landscape—a story that’s both intimate and universal. A reminder that healing is possible. That truth is liberating. And that love—no matter how complicated—endures.
