Mariska Hargitay says revealing her family’s past brought her peace in a new documentary

Mariska starts her search

Mariska Hargitay talks about her new HBO film My Mom Jayne, which came out June 27, 2025. She wanted to learn more about her mom, Jayne Mansfield, who died in a car crash in 1967. Mariska was only 3 at the time and has no memory of the accident.

She told USA TODAY she needed to look at the parts of her past she was scared of. “I don’t have the words for what I’ve gone through, but I feel fortified,” she shared about what she learned.

How she built her own path

Mariska never tried to be like her mom, who was famous for playing a blonde bombshell. She kept her name and didn’t change her looks to fit what Hollywood wanted. She decided to make her way as an actor.

She became known for playing Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU for more than 25 years. In the documentary, Mariska shows that her mom wasn’t just a star but a talented musician and a mom who cared about her kids.

Finding her real dad

When Mariska was 25, a fan showed her a photo of singer Nelson Sardelli. She felt like she knew him right away and realized he was her real father. She had always thought Mickey Hargitay, her mom’s second husband, was her dad because he raised her.

In 1994, Mariska met Sardelli in Atlantic City. He told her, “I have been waiting for this moment for 30 years.” Mariska said she just needed to know the truth about where she came from.

Deciding to tell the secret

Mariska kept her father’s identity quiet for 30 years because she didn’t want to hurt Mickey, who died in 2006. She thought the truth might upset her family or change how people saw her dad.

She finally shared it in her documentary, saying it felt like the right time. She interviewed Sardelli and his daughters, Giovanna and Pietra, so everyone’s side of the story could be heard

Remembering the car crash

Mariska was in the car with her brothers, Mickey Jr. and Zoltan, when their mom died. Mansfield was 34. Mariska has no memory of the crash but grew up hearing stories and seeing photos.

She told TODAY she was upset not knowing her mom beyond what was in magazines. “I think I was angry that I didn’t know the person behind the pose,” she explained.

Getting help and helping others

Mariska used therapy to work through the trauma of losing her mom. She also got help after being sexually assaulted in her 30s. Those experiences inspired her to start the Joyful Heart Foundation.

Her foundation supports survivors of abuse and helps them find healing. Mariska said letters from fans of SVU made her realize how many people needed someone to stand up for them.

Talking with her brothers and sisters

Mariska interviewed her brothers, Mickey Jr. and Zoltan, who were raised by Mickey after their mom died. She also talked with her half-sister Jayne Marie, from Mansfield’s first marriage, and half-brother Tony Cimber, from her mom’s third marriage.

They shared what it was like growing up in a famous but complicated family. Mariska said these talks helped her understand what her mom and dad went through.

How media changed her mom’s image

The media in the 1960s called Mansfield a Marilyn Monroe copy and made her look silly. They ignored that she spoke several languages and played piano and violin. Mariska wanted to show her mom’s real talents.

She said Hollywood tried to force her mom into one role. Mariska told her own story to fight the old stories that didn’t show who her mom was.

Meeting Sardelli face-to-face

When Mariska met Sardelli, they talked the whole night. Sardelli promised he would never tell anyone he was her father. He kept that promise until Mariska was ready to share the truth.

She met Sardelli’s daughters, Giovanna and Pietra. They got along right away and realized they had a lot in common. Mariska said it helped her feel more complete.

Making things right with family

The film shows Mariska reconnecting with her siblings and Sardelli’s daughters, bringing everyone together after years of questions and secrets. They all spoke openly about the past, sharing what they knew about their parents and how it felt growing up in a family touched by fame and tragedy.

Mariska said talking face-to-face helped her understand her mom’s life better and made her feel closer to her brothers and sisters. She described these talks as a way to finally let go of the mystery that kept her feeling distant for so long.

Confronting rusty strait

Mariska talked with Raymond “Rusty” Strait, who was her mom’s press secretary and wrote a book about Mansfield. His book mentioned that Sardelli might be Mariska’s father, but it remained mostly unknown until now.

She told the Los Angeles Times she felt angry when talking to him. Mariska said Strait didn’t protect her mom and instead wrote stories that hurt her family.

What her mom might think

Mariska told TODAY she believes her mom would be happy about the film because it shows all sides of her life, not just what people saw in magazines. She added that her mom loved music and played piano and violin on TV.

She said it was nice to see the ways she was like her mom. Mariska shared that Mansfield had big dreams and cared a lot about the people around her.

Answers she needed

Mariska said she always wondered why she looked different from Mickey. She noticed things like not having his Roman nose. Meeting Sardelli helped her finally understand why she felt different.

She explained the discovery was hard but important. She kept the love and lessons from Mickey, the dad who raised her, while learning where the rest of herself came from.

Keeping control of her story

Mariska said she was thankful the secret about her dad stayed quiet until she could share it herself. She called it good timing that let her explain her life in her own words.

She pointed out how celebrities often get turned into simple stories by the media. My Mom Jayne tries to give her mom a full story instead of a one-sided image.

Big premieres

The film first showed at Cannes in May 2025, where people stood up and clapped at the end. Then it played at Tribeca on June 13. Famous friends like Cher, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Christopher Meloni came to see it.

Mariska’s dad, Sardelli, and his daughters walked the red carpet with her, showing the world they were finally a family out in the open together.

Curious why HBO’s casting choice has fans fuming? Check out HBO’s ‘Snape’ casting sparks fan outrage.

Where to watch my mom Jayne

My Mom Jayne started streaming on HBO and Max on June 27, 2025, airing from 8 to 10 p.m. ET. The film shares who Jayne Mansfield was and shows Mariska’s search for answers.

Mariska used interviews with family and old photos from storage to learn about her mom. She told TODAY it felt like meeting her mom for the first time, and she wanted people to see that side of her.

Ready to see what HBO has lined up? Don’t miss 15 exciting HBO series coming in 2025.

What part of Mariska’s journey surprised you most? Share your thoughts below.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.