Mariska Hargitay reveals her biological father's identity: 'Living a lie my entire life'
Mariska Hargitay reveals her biological father's identity: 'Living a lie my entire life'
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'Law & Order': Christopher Meloni explains Mariska Hargitay friendship
"Law & Order: Organized Crime" star Christopher Meloni chats with USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa about the friendship he has with Mariska Hargitay.
Mariska Hargitay is opening up about a family bombshell.
The "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star, 61, reveals in her new documentary "My Mom Jayne" that her biological father is actually Italian singer Nelson Sardelli, not Mickey Hargitay, the man who raised her.
According to Vanity Fair, Hargitay says in the movie, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival on May 17, that it was "like the floor fell out from underneath me" when she saw a photo of Sardelli in her 20s and instantly knew he was her biological dad.
Mariska Hargitay's mother, the late actress Jayne Mansfield, became romantically involved with Sardelli in 1963, amid her divorce from Mickey Hargitay. Mansfield and Hargitay reconciled toward the end of 1963, and Mariska Hargitay was born in January 1964.
Mariska Hargitay turns to true mystery: Her mother, Jayne Mansfield
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Hargitay said she "went full Olivia Benson," referring to her "Law & Order" character, when she was 30 and introduced herself to Sardelli after going to see him perform in Atlantic City. She recalled telling him, "I don't want anything, I don't need anything from you ... I have a dad.'" She said, however, that she would go on to develop a bond with Sardelli, who appears on camera in the film.
In "My Mom Jayne," Hargitay explores the story of her mother, who died in a car crash in 1967, when the future "Law & Order" actress was 3.
In a prior announcement, Hargitay described the documentary as "a search for the mother I never knew, an integration of a part of myself I'd never owned, and a reclaiming of my mother's story and my own truth." She added, "I've always believed there is strength in vulnerability, and the process of making this film has confirmed that belief like never before."
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Hargitay said she struggled to navigate "knowing I'm living a lie my entire life" after learning the truth about her parentage. She said the movie is also a love letter to Mickey Hargitay, who died in 2006. She shared that there is "no one that I was closer to on this planet" and reflected, "I'm Mickey Hargitay's daughter − that is not a lie."
Reunited! 'Law & Order: SVU' stars Mariska Hargitay, Chris Meloni photographed together at NBA game
Following the film's Cannes premiere, "My Mom Jayne" is set to debut June 27 on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Contributing: Anna Kaufman
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