Mariska Hargitay made a rare red carpet appearance on May 17, accompanied by her children — Amaya, Andrew, and August — just hours after unveiling a deeply personal family revelation that had been kept secret for decades.
The special occasion was the Cannes Film Festival, where Mariska attended the premiere of her directorial debut My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay. Joined by her husband Peter Hermann, the family came together to support the emotional documentary that explores the life and legacy of Mariska’s mother, Jayne Mansfield.
The film also delivered a shocking twist: for the first time publicly, Mariska revealed that her biological father is not Mickey Hargitay, as long believed, but Italian singer Nelson Sardelli.
“Tonight is about honoring the power of film to connect me with someone I never had the chance to know,” the Law & Order: SVU star said to the audience at Cannes.
Mariska, 61, stunned in a deep pink sequin gown with a black off-the-shoulder neckline and matching black gloves. Her elegant look was completed with her hair swept to one side, revealing statement earrings.
Her children also looked impeccable: August, 18, and Andrew, 13, both wore sharp black tuxedos that matched their father’s, while 14-year-old Amaya looked chic in a black dress with diamanté accents and a cropped blazer.
Mariska and Peter welcomed August in 2006, adopted Amaya in April 2011, and later that year, in October, adopted Andrew. The couple, who met on the set of Law & Order: SVU in 2001, have largely kept their family out of the spotlight.
In recent years, they’ve made a few public appearances, including the 2023 SAY Gala and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Mariska and Amaya also attended the L.A. premiere of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie.
