Mariska Hargitay reveals biological father's identity during Cannes premiere of ‘My Mom Jayne’

Mariska Hargitay names Nelson Sardelli as biological father at Cannes while premiering HBO documentary ‘My Mom Jayne’.

Mariska Hargitay made an emotional appearance at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday for the premiere of her HBO documentary My Mom Jayne.

The documentary, which marks Hargitay’s directorial debut, honours the life of her late mother, Jayne Mansfield. The screening concluded with a four-minute standing ovation, underscoring the film’s emotional impact.

In a personal moment, Hargitay revealed that her biological father is Italian singer Nelson Sardelli, not Mickey Hargitay, the man who raised her and was married to Mansfield. This is the first time Hargitay has publicly addressed her parentage.

“Tonight I’m celebrating the power that film has for me to remember somebody I didn’t have the good fortune to know or grow up with,” Hargitay said during her introduction to the film.

Jayne Mansfield, a Hollywood star of the 1950s, was known for roles in The Girl Can’t Help It and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Beyond her image as a glamorous screen icon, Mansfield was a talented and intelligent performer who later found success as a nightclub act.

Hargitay was three years old when Mansfield died in a tragic car crash. The accident also involved Hargitay and her brothers, who survived. These early life experiences have shaped Hargitay’s long-standing advocacy work.

As Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU, she has portrayed a committed advocate for survivors for more than 550 episodes.

My Mom Jayne offers a fresh view of Mansfield’s life and legacy through Hargitay’s perspective as both daughter and director. The film adds depth to the public understanding of Mansfield’s life, celebrating her not just as a celebrity but as a woman and mother.