Mariska Hargitay Pays Tribute to Jayne Mansfield With Documentary and Cannes-Inspired Look
Mariska Hargitay Honors Her Iconic Mother, Jayne Mansfield, With Fashion and Film
Mariska Hargitay, star of Law & Order: SVU, has honored her late mother, Jayne Mansfield, with both a heartfelt documentary and a nostalgic fashion tribute. During a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Hargitay, 61, stunned in a black Stella McCartney suit adorned with metallic embellishments — a modern nod to a gown Mansfield famously wore at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival.“She wore a dress just like this,” Hargitay shared with Colbert. “It’s a little homage to her.” At Cannes, Mansfield turned heads in a black dress featuring metallic details, paired with a black fur stole and white gloves. By her side was husband Mickey Hargitay, Mariska’s father.
“My Mom, Jayne”: A Daughter’s Emotional Directorial Debut
Hargitay has also stepped behind the camera for the first time with her documentary My Mom, Jayne, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 13, 2025. The film provides an intimate look at Mansfield’s life — not just as a Hollywood sex symbol but as a complex woman and devoted mother.“I've spent my whole life distancing myself from my mother,” Hargitay says in the film’s trailer. “Her career made me want to do it differently, but I want to understand her now.”
Surviving Tragedy, Searching for Truth
Jayne Mansfield died tragically in a car crash in 1967 at the age of 34. Mariska, then only three years old, survived the accident along with her two older brothers. Though she has no personal memories of her mother, Hargitay’s journey to direct the documentary became a way to fill that emotional gap.“I’ve never talked to my siblings about their experiences,” she revealed. The film brings together Mansfield’s children — Jayne Marie Mansfield, Mickey Hargitay Jr., Zoltan Hargitay, and Tony Cimber — each offering personal memories and reflections on the real woman behind the glamorous image.
A Family Reflects on the Woman Behind the Fame
The documentary navigates the contrast between Mansfield’s public persona and her private life. “I looked the other way because I knew she was really smart,” says Mickey Jr. in the film, challenging long-held assumptions about his mother’s image as simply a blonde bombshell.Their reflections help dismantle the stereotype and give a fuller, more human picture of Mansfield — as a mother, performer, and woman ahead of her time.
Streaming Release Timed to Anniversary of Mansfield’s Death
My Mom, Jayne will be available to stream on Max starting June 27, 2025 — just two days before the 58th anniversary of Mansfield’s death. The release date adds even more poignancy to Hargitay’s tribute, as it offers fans and new audiences alike a chance to rediscover Jayne Mansfield’s legacy beyond the spotlight.Legacy Through Lens and Love
With both fashion and film, Mariska Hargitay is reshaping the narrative surrounding her iconic mother. Her choice to honor Mansfield at Tribeca and on late-night television speaks to a growing embrace of her roots — and a commitment to telling a more complete, personal story.“My goal was never just to make a film about a star,” Hargitay shared. “It was to make peace with my past — and to finally meet the woman who gave me life.”
