In her new documentary My Mom Jayne, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay, 61, reveals a deeply personal truth: her biological father is not Mickey Hargitay, the man who raised her, but Italian singer Nelson Sardelli.
As reported by Vanity Fair, the revelation came as a shock to Hargitay when, in her 20s, she saw a photograph of Sardelli and immediately recognized a resemblance. “It was like the floor fell out from underneath me,” she recalls in the film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17.
The late actress Jayne Mansfield, Hargitay’s mother, had a romantic relationship with Sardelli in 1963 during her separation from Mickey Hargitay. Although Mansfield and Mickey reconciled later that same year, Mariska was born in January 1964, shortly after their reunion.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Mariska Hargitay shared that she “went full Olivia Benson” — a nod to her iconic Law & Order character — when she was 30 years old and decided to meet Nelson Sardelli. After attending one of his performances in Atlantic City, she introduced herself, recalling that she told him directly: “I don’t want anything, I don’t need anything from you … I have a dad.’” She said, eventually they formed a deep relationship.
In My Mom Jayne, Mariska Hargitay delves into the life and legacy of her mother, Jayne Mansfield, who died in a tragic car accident in 1967 when Hargitay was just three years old. She has described the documentary as a personal journey to uncover the mother she never had the chance to truly know, to embrace a long-unacknowledged part of her identity, and to take ownership of both her mother’s narrative and her own.
In her conversation with Vanity Fair, Mariska Hargitay opened up about the emotional turmoil she faced after discovering the truth about her biological father, admitting it was difficult to come to terms with the realization that her entire life had been shaped by a hidden truth. She also shared that the film serves as a heartfelt tribute to Mickey Hargitay, the man who raised her and remained a guiding presence until his passing in 2006.
Mariska Hargitay, born on January 23, 1964, in Santa Monica, California, is an acclaimed American actress, producer, director, and activist. She is best known for her portrayal of Detective Olivia Benson on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role she has embodied since the show’s inception in 1999. Hargitay’s performance has earned her numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award
The daughter of 1950s sex symbol Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, Mariska faced tragedy early in life when her mother died in a car accident in 1967, an incident that Mariska survived at the age of three. She was subsequently raised by Mickey Hargitay and his third wife, Ellen Siano
In addition to her acting career, Hargitay is a dedicated advocate for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. She founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004, aiming to support and empower survivors. Her advocacy work includes producing the Emmy-winning HBO documentary I Am Evidence, which addresses the backlog of untested rape kits in the United States
Married to actor Peter Hermann since 2004, the couple has three children. Hargitay continues to balance her professional endeavors with her commitment to advocacy and family life.
