Mariska Hargitay is a well-known actress who is best recognized for her starring role as Detective Olivia Benson in the critically acclaimed television series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” which airs on NBC. Her father was the bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay, and her mother was the actress Jayne Mansfield, therefore she was born into the entertainment industry. She made her debut in the film industry in 1985 with the role of Donna in the horror comedy picture “Ghoulies.” When compared to her roles in feature films, Hargitay has had a more productive career on the small screen. The actress of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” got her start in the entertainment industry with a recurring part in “ER,” which eventually led her to her most famous role as Olivia Benson.
Hargitay’s mother made a name for herself in the entertainment industry as a sex symbol, but Hargitay chose a different path for her own career. Instead, the up-and-coming actress looked for parts that featured independent and self-assured women. The actress who has won several awards revealed to People that in addition to performing in the popular series, she also conducted her own stunts. The perseverance and effort that Hargitay put in paid off. Screen Rant claims that the character Hargitay holds the record for the longest period spent as a prime-time live-action cast member.
While filming “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Hargitay became friends with Peter Hermann, who would later become her husband. In 2004, the couple tied the knot, and in 2006, they became parents to a son whom they called August. When Hargitay became pregnant with her son, she was 42 years old. Because of her advanced age, Hargitay’s pregnancy was complicated, and after she gave birth to August, she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to try for another child. Because of this, the couple decided to start their family via the process of adoption.
Many of Hargitay’s admirers are aware of the challenges she has as a mom, and they empathize with her. Because of this, it was really touching to learn that her adoptive daughter, Amaya, is now an adult. This was made clear in an extremely uncommon family picture that one of Hargitay’s friends shared on social media. Continue reading to find out more about the process of adoption that Amaya and Hargitay went through.
Despite the fact that being pregnant was one of Hargitay’s greatest joys, she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her third trimester. Gestational diabetes is a special kind of diabetes that only manifests itself in women who are pregnant, as stated by the Mayo Clinic. Despite this, those over the age of 35, particularly women, are more likely to be affected.
In an interview with People, the actress from “Leaving Las Vegas” recounted how difficult the latter part of her pregnancy was owing to an illness she had been experiencing.
She reflected on the experience, saying, “This pregnancy was really difficult for me at the end.” “I had limited mobility.”
In spite of the fact that Hargitay and Hermann planned to have a large family, the actress said in an interview with Good Housekeeping that they pursued adoption because of worry that Hargitay might never be able to get pregnant again.
After that, they contacted an adoption lawyer who specialized in “intuitive” adoptions, and finally, they started the process of adopting a child. The voyage was not an easy one since it began with an intensive, five-hour house visit, and in some instances, there were even some false starts along the way.
“There were a few instances in which things did not go as planned. A significant number and variety of distinct sorts of difficulties. Then, after a series of letdowns, a significant glimmer of optimism appeared, but it was ultimately shattered,” she remembered to the newspaper. “It may seem ironic, but the experience that taught me the most about what it means to contribute to the formation of a family was also the one that was the most difficult and disappointing,” she said.
During the course of the procedure, Hargitay and Hermann came dangerously close to entering the hospital and even holding the newborn baby who was meant to be theirs. However, in the blink of an eye, something unexpected transpired that prevented them from doing so.
“The biological mother made a last-minute decision. She recounted the event with tears in her eyes while speaking to the publication about how heartbreaking it was. However, it was most likely the best and happiest conclusion possible. I mean, it was such a difficult time for us, but it must have been really joyous and absolutely appropriate for her.
Shortly after the failure of Hargitay and Hermann’s adoption, the couple’s attorney contacted them with information about another lady who was expecting a child. The actress, who won an Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Primetime Drama Series, remembers being “blown away” by the potential birth mother during a phone conversation.
Despite this, the couple approached the first possible adoption with a healthy dose of skepticism because of the emotional trauma they had experienced during the previous adoption attempt. Hargitay was relieved when the mother gave her reassurance and confirmed that she is really the baby’s mother. After hearing the assurances, Hargitay said that she broke down and sobbed.
The fact that the kid would be of African-American descent was of no concern to either the mother or the rest of the Hargitay-Hermann family.
“We were excited to have a multiracial family because that’s what the world is, and we want our family to reflect a realistic microcosm of the world,” the authors write. “We want our family to reflect a realistic microcosm of the world.”
Hermann expressed his feelings over the expansion of his family to People Magazine, saying, “It’s funny, I always get so private about our kids, but I think that the easiest way or the easiest answer is that we just wanted a bigger family, and we feel incredibly blessed.”
As for Hargitay, she has said that she has been “deliriously happy” ever since the birth of Amaya, her second child and her first daughter. Amaya is also Hargitay’s first daughter. The meaning of her name in other languages is “princess, warrior, and night rain.” Amaya, meantime, developed into a beautiful young girl while all was going on.
“I’ve never been happier in my life. “She was just surprisingly alert and so full of love from the moment she was born,” Hargitay stated in a statement after the birth of her daughter.
In July 2023, Hargitay and her family were captured in a new photo that was released on social media by her close friend, Mary McLagen. In the picture, Hargitay, Hermann, Amaya, and their youngest kid, Andrew, can be seen hugging one other and laughing together. Amaya, who was 12 at the time, seemed to be a mature young woman in the picture.