Mariska Hargitay honors late mother Jayne Mansfield in heartfelt new documentary

Mariska Hargitay is stepping behind the camera for her feature film directorial debut with My Mom Jayne, a new HBO documentary exploring the life and legacy of her mother, Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield.

The film marks the first time Hargitay publicly examines her mother's story, nearly six decades after her tragic death.

Described as “a labor of love and longing,” the documentary follows Hargitay’s emotional journey to understand and connect with the mother she barely knew. Jayne Mansfield, a 1950s film star and sex symbol, died in a car accident in 1967 at the age of 34, when Hargitay was only three years old.

“This is a search for the mother I never knew,” Hargitay said in a statement. “It’s about reclaiming her story and discovering my own truth.”

My Mom Jayne blends never-before-seen home videos, personal photographs, and intimate interviews with those who knew Mansfield both privately and publicly. It aims to reveal the depth, vulnerability, and humanity behind the glamorous public persona.

The documentary is produced by Hargitay and Trish Adlesic and executive produced by Lauran Bromley. It will premiere exclusively on HBO, with a release date expected to be announced soon.

In addition to her long-running role on Law & Order: SVU, Hargitay brings a deeply personal perspective to this project, bridging the gap between a lost maternal bond and public memory. My Mom Jayne promises to be both a tribute and a powerful story of identity, legacy, and love.