Mariska Hargitay is a beloved actress who will forever known for playing a signature role, in this case Law and Order: SVU’s tough-as-nails detective Olivia Benson. The character has been a trailblazer when it comes to female characters on television. Benson is strong, independent, intelligent, and multifaceted, setting a new standard for how women are depicted on the small screen. Hargitay is proud of the work she’s done on the show, and as time has gone on, she has been able to see parts of her famous late mother, Jayne Mansfield, in her iconic procedural character.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hargitay opened up about her new HBO documentary titled My Mom Jayne, which hit the 2025 TV schedule in June and is avialable to stream with a Max subscription. The project, which she directed, examines Mansfield’s life as both an actress and sex symbol before she passed away tragically at 34, and it also delves into Hargitay’s relationship to her mother’s legacy.
approach to stardom as a “female powerhouse”, and how she sees her character Olivia Benson.
You can see Mariska Hargitay’s documentary by streaming My Mom Jayne airing on HBO or streaming on HBO Max. Fans of the actress can also see her continue her role as Olivia Benson on Law and Order: SVU, which is streaming now with a Peacock subscription.