Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay found new strength in her mother’s story.
A character that became an identity
Hey man, have you ever imagined an actress becoming so attached to her character that the lines between the two become blurred? That’s exactly what happened to Mariska Hargitay!
She’s been playing Olivia Benson for nearly three decades – a journey that began in 1999 and continues today on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
Interestingly, Mariska herself acknowledges how much the role has changed her.
A parallel evolution behind and behind the scenes
At Hello Sunshine’s third annual Shine Away event, Mariska revealed, “I consider it a perfect feminist story, in which I started from one place and gradually evolved into the character and my personality – both in front of and behind the camera. In the beginning, I wanted something but didn’t fully understand my strengths or potential.”
A Lioness’ Passion for Justice
Mariska continued, “Now I’m so grateful for this experience, which runs parallel both onscreen and offscreen.
As this character, I’ve evolved into a powerful lioness whose passion for justice and need for survival are so deep that she can’t live without righting wrongs.
I have these same parallels in my own life—growing, changing, and righting wrongs.”
Freedom from Old Limitations
Mariska, 61, who recently made her feature film directorial debut with her documentary “My Mom Jayne,” said, “I’ve changed in ways I know, and ways I don’t have words for, yet it’s natural.
I can feel the change. There are small moments when I know I’m different. And you know what? I’m comfortable shedding this old, limiting skin, daring to dream and be more.”
The Source of Indomitable Courage
When asked where her indomitable courage comes from, Mariska credits two things: survival and survivors.
“I think from childhood trauma, we learn to survive. We have to survive. So I navigated my life story—’How am I going to navigate this world beyond my understanding?’ And it’s instinctive. We find ways to do that,” she explained.
Inspiration from Survivors
“And then I’ve had the extraordinary privilege of watching survivors’ stories for the past 27 years.
We see people do some of the worst things to each other—and dealing with that, I think, is an innate part of being a woman. So I think I’ve learned from those I’ve seen deal with it.”
Mother’s Story, Her Story
When Mariska was just 3 years old, she survived the car accident that claimed the life of her mother, Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield.
Nearly 60 years later, Mariska brought her mother’s story—and her own—to life on the big screen in “My Mom Jayne.”
“I’ve been preparing my whole life to make this. I think that’s what I was doing, getting ready to make it.
Building a framework within myself so I could tell the story in a clear, concise way while fighting all these demons,” she said.
A journey that continues
“I went on this journey, which has been mind-boggling and extraordinary and scary and rough, and that’s why I talk about strengthening myself and making sure I had the internal infrastructure to make this film.”
Today, Mariska’s documentary “My Mom Jayne” is available for streaming on HBO Max, and “Law & Order: SVU” airs every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Have you seen either of them? If not, don’t miss your chance!
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