Mariska Hargitay is more than the iconic Captain Olivia Benson from Law & Order: SVU. After more than two decades of fighting for survivors on screen, she’s now facing a different kind of battle — one from her own past. That fight comes to HBO this summer in the form of My Mom Jayne, a deeply personal documentary that Hargitay directed and stars in. It’s a raw look at her relationship with her late mother, Jayne Mansfield, and the trauma she’s spent a lifetime processing.
Hargitay’s Documentary Marks Her Directorial Debut
My Mom Jayne isn’t just a tribute to Mansfield. It’s Hargitay’s first time stepping behind the camera for a feature-length project. And she doesn’t hold back. Using never-before-seen home footage, photos, and intimate interviews, the film tracks her emotional journey to understand the woman behind the Hollywood image — and what it means to truly mourn someone she lost when she was only three years old.
“This movie is a labor of love and longing,” Hargitay said in a recent statement. “It’s a search for the mother I never knew, an integration of a part of myself I’d never owned, and a reclaiming of my mother’s story and my own truth.”
From Mother's Day Posts To A Full-Fledged Exploration
Recently, Hargitay stirred emotions once again with a series of posts on Instagram honoring her mother. A poignant photo of her siblings with Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay — taken on a Mother’s Day when her family was named “Family of the Year” by Mount Sinai Hospital — sparked reflection among her fans. Mariska wasn’t in the picture. She hadn’t been born yet.
But even without her presence in the moment, the image now stands as a symbol of what she’s been working through. On May 8, 1960, the day of that celebration, Mariska’s late mother was still full of life. Just seven years later, a tragic car accident would change everything.
The Tragic Accident That Changed Her Life Forever
In 1967, a 3-year-old Mariska Hargitay sat in the backseat of a car with her brothers. The vehicle crashed into a tractor-trailer. Jayne Mansfield, her attorney, and the driver all died instantly. Mariska and her brothers survived with minor injuries. The trauma of losing her mother so early in life would shape her existence — though she says it took decades to even recognize that trauma.
“I grew up in a house of people dealing with the tragedy in their own way,” Hargitay explained in a recent interview. “There was so much grief, there wasn’t room to prioritize anyone.”
Turning Personal Trauma Into Advocacy And Art
Hargitay’s work on SVU has long mirrored her real-life mission. As a founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation, she’s championed survivors of sexual assault and abuse — drawing from her own experiences with trauma. Her portrayal of Olivia Benson isn’t just acting; it’s advocacy. And now, with My Mom Jayne, she’s added another tool to her arsenal: honest storytelling.
“I’ve always believed there is strength in vulnerability,” she said. “The process of making this film has confirmed that belief like never before.”
What Fans Can Expect From ‘My Mom Jayne’
The documentary doesn’t glamorize Mansfield’s life. Instead, it peels back the layers of public persona to reveal a mother, a woman, and a human being. For fans used to seeing Hargitay fight for justice on TV, this film offers a different kind of emotional punch — one that’s more personal, but no less powerful.
HBO hasn’t announced an exact release date, but the buzz is already strong. And with SVU renewed for another season, Mariska Hargitay’s presence in the cultural conversation isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Mariska Hargitay’s Legacy Extends Beyond The Screen
Whether she’s leading a unit that protects the most vulnerable or digging into the past of a mother she never truly knew, Hargitay’s work is defined by one thing: purpose. She transforms pain into power, and silence into voice. That’s a legacy that won’t fade — even if her role as Olivia Benson one day does.