5 Shocking Family Secrets & Rare Red Carpet Moments: The Untold Story Of Mariska Hargitay And Her Family In 2025

Mariska Hargitay, the beloved face of Captain Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has always kept her private life with husband Peter Hermann and their three children largely out of the spotlight. However, the year 2025 has brought a series of unprecedented family updates, including a bombshell documentary that revealed long-held family secrets and a stunning, rare collective appearance on a major international stage.

The actress and her family—known for their commitment to privacy—have recently offered the public a deeper look into their lives, showcasing a powerful bond forged through adoption, biological connection, and the complicated legacy of Hollywood royalty. This deep dive explores the newest revelations and the beautiful, blended family unit that is the center of Hargitay's world.

Mariska Hargitay: A Complete Family Biography and Profile

Mariska Magdolna Hargitay is an American actress, producer, and director, best known for her role as Detective/Captain Olivia Benson on the NBC drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU), a role she has held for over two decades. Her life began under the bright lights of Hollywood, though tragedy struck early, shaping her perspective on family and life's work.

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• Full Name: Mariska Magdolna Hargitay
• Date of Birth: January 23, 1964
• Place of Birth: Santa Monica, California, U.S.
• Parents: Jayne Mansfield (mother, actress and sex symbol) and Mickey Hargitay (father, Hungarian-American actor and former Mr. Universe)
• Spouse: Peter Hermann (married August 28, 2004)
• Children: August Miklos Friedrich Hermann (biological son), Amaya Josephine Hermann (adopted daughter), and Andrew Nicolas Hermann (adopted son)
• Notable Role: Captain Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU (since 1999)
• Philanthropy: Founder and President of the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.

Hargitay was only three years old when her mother, Jayne Mansfield, died in a tragic car accident in 1967. Her father, Mickey Hargitay, and his third wife, Ellen Siano, raised her, creating a strong foundation that she credits for her resilience and dedication to family values.

The Rare 2025 Red Carpet Appearance: A Family United for 'My Mom Jayne'

One of the most significant and talked-about family moments in recent memory occurred in the spring of 2025. Mariska Hargitay, alongside her husband, Peter Hermann, and all three of their children—August, 18, Amaya, 14, and Andrew, 13—made a rare and highly photographed appearance on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival.

The event was the premiere of Hargitay's deeply personal and revealing documentary, My Mom Jayne. This outing was a powerful public display of family unity, as the couple seldom brings their children to high-profile events. The children, now teenagers and young adults, stood proudly by their parents, offering a glimpse into their close-knit, blended family life.

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The documentary itself, which explores the life and legacy of her mother, Jayne Mansfield, served as a catalyst for this public moment. It represents a new chapter for Hargitay, one where she is more openly sharing the complexities of her origins and the healing process with her family.

Peter Hermann, an actor known for his role as Jack Boyle on Blue Bloods and his recurring role as Trevor Langan on SVU, has been married to Mariska since 2004, having met on the set of Law & Order: SVU. Their enduring, two-decade-long marriage is considered one of the most stable in Hollywood.

The Blended Family: August, Amaya, and Andrew Hermann

Mariska and Peter’s journey to becoming a family of five is a testament to their deep commitment to parenthood. They are parents to three children who were welcomed into their lives in three distinct ways, creating a truly modern and blended family structure.

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August Miklos Friedrich Hermann (Biological Son)

Their first child, August Miklos Friedrich Hermann, was born on June 28, 2006. August, now 18, is their biological son and is often seen as the eldest figure in the family. His birth marked the start of Hargitay’s motherhood journey later in life, a role she often speaks about with immense joy and gratitude.

Amaya Josephine Hermann (Adopted Daughter)

In April 2011, the couple adopted their daughter, Amaya Josephine, from Africa. Hargitay has spoken openly about the profound experience of adoption, explaining that they knew they wanted to adopt even before they had their biological son, fulfilling a long-held desire to expand their family. Amaya is now 14 years old.

Andrew Nicolas Hermann (Adopted Son)

Just six months after welcoming Amaya, the family grew again with the domestic adoption of their second son, Andrew Nicolas Hermann, in October 2011. Andrew, 13, completed their trio of children. Mariska has described the back-to-back adoptions as an unexpected but wonderful surprise, stating that their family felt immediately complete with the arrival of their two youngest children so close together.

The Shocking Family Secret Revealed in 'My Mom Jayne'

The 2025 documentary, My Mom Jayne, was not just a tribute to her late mother; it was a vehicle for Mariska to confront and share a decades-long family secret that has been a source of curiosity for years. The documentary reveals that the man Mariska always believed was her biological father, Mickey Hargitay, may not be her only biological link to her mother’s life.

In a surprising and emotional revelation, the documentary explored the possibility that her biological father is actually Nelson Sardelli, an Italian singer and performer who had a relationship with Jayne Mansfield. While Mickey Hargitay raised Mariska and remained a loving father figure throughout her life, the documentary sheds light on the complex relationships of her mother's life and the clouded origins Mariska has carried.

Hargitay shared that the process of making the film and confronting these family truths has been incredibly therapeutic. She stated that after the documentary, her family felt "a little bit more healed," suggesting the open acknowledgment of this secret brought a new level of emotional closure and understanding to her entire family unit, including her husband and children.

The Legacy of Joy: From SVU to the Joyful Heart Foundation

Mariska Hargitay's professional life as Captain Olivia Benson—a role focused on advocating for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence—is deeply intertwined with her philanthropic work.

In 2004, she founded the Joyful Heart Foundation (originally the Happy Hearts Fund) after receiving thousands of letters from viewers who had experienced similar trauma to the cases depicted on SVU. The foundation's mission is to transform society's response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors' healing, and end the violence.

The actress's dedication to this cause is a core part of her public and private identity, demonstrating the powerful way her professional life has influenced her personal passion for advocacy. Her family, including Peter Hermann, is often seen supporting her work, underscoring the values of compassion and justice that they instill in their children, August, Amaya, and Andrew.