Mariska Hargitay Went ‘Full Olivia Benson’ When She Met Her Biological Father

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As a movie enthusiast, I’ve always admired Olivia Benson’s knack for unraveling family mysteries on Law & Order: SVU. Star Mariska Hargitay herself delves into such a secret in her latest documentary, My Mom Jayne. Here, she discloses that the Hungarian actor and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, though widely believed to be her father, isn’t biologically connected to her.

Mariska’s mother, the legendary Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield, parted ways with Mickey from 1963–64. During this period, she crossed paths with the Italian entertainer Nelson Sardelli, who, as Mariska verifies in the doc, is indeed her biological father. Tragically, Jayne passed away when Mariska was merely 3 years old, leaving Mariska to uncover her lineage on her own. Upon seeing a photograph of Sardelli, she felt an immediate connection and knew he was her father. In her documentary, she recounts this revelation, saying, “It was as if the ground gave way beneath me. Like my whole world crumbled.” [Credit: Vanity Fair]

Mariska initially encountered Sardelli following his stage appearance, yet at that moment, a romantic involvement wasn’t on her agenda. She explained her reaction, saying, “I gave him the Olivia Benson treatment,” she confided in VF. “I told him, ‘I don’t want anything from you, I don’t need anything… I already have a dad.'” Over time, their bond has grown, and they now share a close relationship with his two daughters. However, it’s only recently that Mariska has chosen to disclose their connection publicly, expressing her regret for keeping it hidden. “These women I cherish so deeply – I kept them as secrets!” she lamented to VF. “It breaks my heart.” She made this film, she added, as a means of relieving herself and others of the burden.

The film titled “My Mom Jayne” made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, in the Cannes Classics section. At the premiere, Mariska expressed her feelings about the impact movies have had for her, saying, “Tonight I’m celebrating the power that film has to help me remember someone I didn’t have the chance to know or grow up with,” as reported by Variety. The documentary delves into Mariska’s complex relationship with the iconic persona of her mother, Jayne Mansfield, in Hollywood. During an interview with Deadline on May 19, she admitted, “I felt embarrassed by her.” She added that the film serves as a form of exploration and excavation, describing it as an “emotional archaeological dig.” “My Mom Jayne” will air on HBO on June 27, which is just two days before the anniversary of Mansfield’s death.

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2025-05-19 18:53