Mariska Hargitay, who we all know as the strong Olivia Benson from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, is starting something new. She is launching her own production company called Mighty Entertainment. This company will make both scripted and unscripted movies and TV shows. Her very first project as a feature film director, a movie called "My Mom Jayne," is leading the way for her new company. It is a big step for the actress.
"My Mom Jayne" was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. It will also appear at the Tribeca Film Festival next month. You can catch it on HBO starting June 27. Hargitay, who also works as an executive producer on "SVU," plans to use Mighty Entertainment to "tell stories that connect us to our courage, curiosity and compassion." This sounds like she is bringing her well-known passion for important topics to her new role behind the camera.
The team at Mighty includes Lauran Bromley as vice president and Trish Adlesic as head of documentary. Melissa Robyn Glassman is head of scripted content and Sophia Erensel is director of operations. Peter Hermann, Hargitay's husband, will be the creative director. Hargitay Bromley and Adlesic first worked together in 2017 on the Emmy-winning HBO documentary "I Am Evidence." This group has already shown they can make films that matter.
Hargitay explained why she started Mighty Entertainment in a statement. She said "At Mighty Entertainment we aim to tell stories that connect us to our courage, curiosity, and compassion. We will challenge perspectives and shed light, all in the service of considering our shared humanity." She feels launching this company is a natural step in her rewarding creative journey. She believes storytelling is both a duty and an invitation. It has been a privilege for her to share stories from underrepresented groups. She says this personal goal will carry over to her new company. Her time making "My Mom Jayne" showed her how personal experiences can become broadly relatable. It showed her the gifts that come from re-examining accepted ideas. She is excited to build this company with a team dedicated to telling important stories.
The Deeply Personal Story Behind Mariska Hargitay's First Film "My Mom Jayne"
A Look Into Jayne Mansfield's Life And Hargitay's Family Secrets
The name of the company, Mighty Entertainment, and its logo, a girl on a bicycle, are very special to Hargitay. When she was looking through old photos for "My Mom Jayne," she found a picture of herself on a bike at age three. She describes it saying "I’m leaning forward, so determined and so clear, ‘I’ve got this. I’m handling it. I’m navigating it. I’m good.’ I saw this picture and it’s already me. It’s 3-year-old Olivia Benson." She added with a bit of humor "She’s not messing around."
The name "Mighty" itself was given to her decades ago. She told Variety "I was dating somebody in my 20s, and he was friends with Jack Nicholson. Jack Nicholson said, ‘How’s Mighty?’ It was my favorite nickname, because I was like, ‘That’s right, Jack,’ and I met him maybe twice. I’ll take it, I’ll own it, and I’ll run with that." This little story shows a bit of her personality and how she embraces things that feel right for her.
Starting a production company now "feels like such a natural progression," Hargitay says. She has spent years telling stories about sexual assault and domestic violence on "SVU." She plans to work on both scripted and unscripted films and TV series. Many of these projects are already being worked on. She told Variety "There are so many stories to tell — so many stories that are so basic to our humanity, like ‘My Mom Jayne.’ I want to tell stories that make the world feel a little safer, cozier and give hope, while at the same time raising up different voices that have been pushed aside or people who aren’t ready to come forward. There’s a comfort in getting absorbed in somebody else’s story."
She also added "It’s a really beautiful way to balance what I do with ‘SVU,’ and scratch that itch of doing something completely different, and now I feel like I have the capacity and it won’t take anything away.” Adlesic mentioned that Hargitay is "not only one of television’s most iconic actresses but also a strong storyteller and driver for social change whose creative direction has guided her for decades.” She added that documentaries can create change. They are eager to continue their work together. Their goal is to champion stories that celebrate realness and openness as strong points. This reflects Hargitay's heartfelt way of working.
Glassman also said "We aim to make louder voices that use the strength of story to examine important perspectives and start real conversations. Mariska’s passion for advocacy has always been a guiding light. It’s remarkable to see her put that same energy into bold, creative projects that can truly make a difference."
Mariska Hargitay's Personal Journey and Its Influence on Her New Work
How Her Life Experiences Shaped Her Drive To Tell Undiscussed Stories
Mariska Hargitay was just three years old when her mother, Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield, died in a car crash. Hargitay survived the accident, but her early memories of her mother are not there. She told Vanity Fair "I don’t remember the accident. I don’t even remember being told that my mother had died.” She added "I look at photos, and I don’t really remember anything until I was five.” This early loss had a big effect on her life.
For many years, Hargitay struggled to process this trauma. Her therapist suggested that her sleepiness during therapy sessions when talking about painful events was a way her mind protected her. To deal with it, she needed to face the shame she felt about her mother, who was known as a sex symbol. She also had a secret about her biological father that she kept for decades. "My Mom Jayne" came out of this personal journey. It started as a way for Hargitay to investigate her mother's life.
Jayne Mansfield was more than just a famous image. She spoke several languages and played musical instruments. She also faced loss at a young age, with her father dying when she was three. Mansfield tried to get serious acting roles, but casting directors pushed her toward a more bombshell image. Even after starring roles, she struggled to be seen as more than her appearance. Hargitay grew up embarrassed by this public image of her mother. "I just wanted my mom to be like the other moms! Like, Why are you always in a bathing suit? Why so much breast? I just wanted a maternal mother image,” she shared. This feeling shaped her own choices in life and in her acting career. It is no accident that she has played Olivia Benson for 26 years. Olivia Benson is a strong, nurturing female character on TV.
Hargitay also found out in her 20s that her biological father was an Italian entertainer named Nelson Sardelli. Her father Mickey Hargitay, who raised her, had denied it. When she met Sardelli later, he burst into tears. She felt a strong sense of loyalty to Mickey and initially kept Sardelli a secret. This documentary is a way for her to explore this complex family history. She said it is a "love letter" to Mickey. She understands now that her mother chose for her to be raised by Mickey because he would give her a stable home. She also has adopted children herself. This helps her understand family connections even more deeply. She is also linked her own past trauma, including a sexual assault she experienced, to her work with the Joyful Heart Foundation. This foundation helps survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Mariska Hargitay's Enduring Legacy And Her Ongoing Commitment To Storytelling
What Her New Ventures Mean For Her Future And Her Iconic Role On Television
For two decades, Hargitay has worked through her Joyful Heart Foundation to change how we talk about sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. She also works to support survivors. She was a producer on the 2017 documentary "I Am Evidence," which showed how many unprocessed rape kits sat in police storage. This film made her love filmmaking. She plans to make more documentaries in the future. She is working to balance her role on "SVU" with her new filmmaking projects. She is not done with Olivia Benson yet. She said "She’s got more work to do."
Hargitay's long-standing friendship with Chris Meloni, her former "SVU" co-star, shows her ability to build lasting connections. They had an awkward first meeting at their audition, but their chemistry was clear from the start. Meloni remembered them walking into their final screen test "laughing." Their bond remains strong even after many years. Meloni has spoken highly of Hargitay, describing her as "fearless" and someone who always reacts with "compassion and empathy." He said she sees hope in tough situations and potential in everyone. This enduring friendship reflects the same personal qualities Hargitay brings to her new production company and her dedication to human stories.
Hargitay is getting ready for "My Mom Jayne's" screening at Cannes. Her mother Jayne Mansfield also appeared at the festival in 1958. She left behind many glamorous photos. Hargitay shared her feelings saying "The fact that I get to take her back and to tell her story there, I just don’t have the words.” She feels a mix of nerves and excitement. She thought about everything that led her to this point. "Thirty years, and now it’s coming out. It’s wild.” She is clearly thrilled about this new stage of her career and her continued work in sharing human stories.