Mariska Hargitay gained both acclaim and her own family thanks to her role as Olivia Benson on “Law and Order,” which she played for many years. Yet when it came to Hargitay and her co-star Peter Hermann, “Law and Order” wasn’t simply about putting the pieces of the puzzle together to solve a murder.
The television show “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” served as a romantic backdrop for Hermann and Hargitay’s relationship. The actors’ relationship has only grown stronger since they began dating on the NBC program, and they now have a lovely family together. The show was the catalyst for their romance.
The off-screen relationship that took place between Hargitay and Hermann over the run of “Law and Order” is unparalleled. This devoted couple has been married for more than 18 years now after first meeting each other after Hermann’s participation on season 2.
In an interview with People, Hargitay discussed in an open and honest manner her first date with Hermann, which took place several years after the two originally met. The actress did not need any other evidence than the couple’s first date to realize that Hermann was the one for her.
During his visit as a guest on the NBC program in the year 2002, Hermann extended an invitation to Hargitay to attend church with him. Hargitay, on the other hand, recalled that she was “struck by a lightning bolt” at the same time as Hermann was apparently listening to the lecture.
The actress said that she felt a deep connection to Hermann and broke down in tears in the midst of their date. Hermann believed that the service was what moved her, but the actress claims that the realization that “he was the one” was the reason.
“I simply began bawling. Since the ceremony had such an effect on me, Peter had the impression that I was sobbing. Not at all; rather, it was because I was overcome with emotion upon the understanding that he was the one.
The 59-year-old “Jocks” actress has also been quoted as saying the following on her certainty of the connection she experienced with Hermann:
I sobbed because I was experiencing something that I had never experienced before, but I had a good idea of what it was. When you’re a young girl, your parents, grandparents, and other family members all tell you, “When you’re in love, you’ll know.” And I did.”
The connection that Hargitay and Hermann had was extremely New York. When asked about the early years of their relationship, the actor from “All Is Bright” recalled traveling to his flat on West 36th Street and coming upon an actual horde of rats:
“The only thing I could say to this lady I loved and who I would later marry was, New York!,” he exclaimed.
Luckily, the couple’s love continued to flourish in spite of the rat infestation, and by the year 2004, they were both ready to take the next step and be married. The Unitarian Heritage Church in Santa Barbara served as the setting for the wedding of Hargitay and Hermann.
Hargitay attended the nuptials in a gown designed by Carolina Herrera that had a light pink color and had the initials of the groom and the wedding date sewn into the lining.
After being married for a few years, the “Law and Order” actors decided it was time to have a family of their own. In 2006, when the “Simple Truth” was 42 years old, the couple had their first child, August.
Hargitay and Hermann intended to have a large family, and despite the fact that she was becoming older, she did not want to give up on having more children. In an interview in 2012, the actress expressed the following about her experience as a mother:
“Since I believe that God is ultimately in control of so much, I decided to stop trying to control the outcome and instead let things happen naturally. My standard response was always something along the lines of, “I don’t know how this is going to end out … if someone is going to leave a kid on my doorstep.”
The decision to adopt was made when Hargitay and her husband expressed a wish to have a large family, and August expressed a desire to have additional siblings. Regrettably, their first adoption effort was unsuccessful; however, they did ultimately get some encouraging news from their attorney.
A video chat was set up between the couple and another woman who was also pregnant by the couple’s attorneys. When asked about the birth of her daughter Amaya, the actress of “The Downtown” confessed she did pretty much all of the work herself:
“I practically extracted Amaya from the room. Peter and I took turns holding her, and afterward, the birth mother and I embraced each other for an extended period of time. That is some deep thinking. It was certainly one of the most significant times I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
Andrew, the couple’s second child, was taken home from the hospital not long after the birth of their second child. The couple had no intention of adopting Andrew, but when the chance presented itself, they did not waste any time in claiming him as their own.
When you have a job that is as demanding as Hargitay’s, finding a balance between parenting and work is probably one of the most challenging tasks you can face. The 59-year-old actress of “Leaving Las Vegas” made it apparent that being a mother hasn’t been an easy experience at one point, during an interview in Beverly Hills.
The famous actress did not bat an eye when she described how “difficult” it had been for her to balance her personal life with her work life. The actress claims that she is able to dedicate her undivided focus to a single endeavor at any one moment, despite the fact that she is still getting the hang of juggling these two elements of her life.
During the course of their parenting journey together, her husband Hermann has also been an incredible source of support and a reliable companion. Although Hargitay discussed the challenges she had as a mom, she couldn’t help but appreciate the tremendous support she received from her husband.
Nevertheless, it is later revealed that Hermann’s support system has not been able to alleviate all of the strain that comes with being a father to three children, and Hargitay comments as such:
“There are times when I get off work and weep in the house.
But now, because of the fact that I’ve been doing this for twenty years, I have this talent. We function like a well-oiled machine at this point. I go in there and I’m like, “Guys, I’ve got a kids thing,” or something along those lines. I’m out.’ They are of the opinion, “Got it, boom.”
Despite the difficulties she has encountered, Hargitay does not despise her position as a mother. On the contrary, Hargitay believes that having children has made her a more attentive and responsible parent.
Being a movie celebrity while also being a mom has not been easy for Hargitay throughout the years; nonetheless, she claims that her children have been her teacher and that her husband is her “North Star.” Hargitay said the following in reference to the collaborative parenting efforts of her and Hermann:
“It’s astonishing how well Peter and I complement each other considering how different we are from one another. He is aware of everything that I am not.”
The actress has described her family as a “happy, cheerful, chaotic, and crazy household,” and she feels that they are the ideal fit for her. But, Hargitay has also made it quite apparent that nothing has seemed to be more appropriate.