Mariska Hargitay Celebrates Emmy Nomination for “My Mom Jayne” Documentary: ‘Grateful to Have This Moment with Her’

Deirdre DurkanWed, July 8, 2026 at 6:29 PM UTC

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Mariska Hargitay in February 2026; and Jayne Mansfield circa 1955Credit: Michael Tran/AFP via Getty; Silver Screen Collection/Getty -

Mariska Hargitay’s documentary about her mother, Jayne Mansfield, earned an Emmy nomination on July 8

The film explores Mansfield’s life, family secrets, and Hargitay’s personal journey of healing and self-discovery

Hargitay will host the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in September, marking another milestone in her career

Mariska Hargitay is celebrating a major milestone for My Mom Jayne.

On Wednesday, July 8, the Television Academy announced the nominations for the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards, with Hargitay’s HBO documentary about her late mother, Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield, earning recognition.

In total, My Mom Jayne was nominated for three awards: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program.

The Law & Order: SVU star, 62, reacted to the honor in a heartfelt statement shared with PEOPLE.

“I’m thrilled and deeply moved by these nominations. It’s an emotional moment, because what feels most natural to say is ‘On behalf of my mom and myself, thank you.’ I’m profoundly grateful to have this moment with her,” Hargitay said.

Jayne Mansfield holding 6-weeks old Mariska Hargitay in March 1964Credit: Archive Photos/Getty

She added, “My gratitude also extends to my producer, the truly formidable Trish Adlesic, our nominated cinematographer, Tony Hardmon, and the rest of my extraordinary team who shepherded this film into reality.”

The recognition continues a banner year for Hargitay, whose deeply personal documentary premiered in June at both the Cannes Film Festival and the Tribeca Festival to widespread critical acclaim.

My Mom Jayne explores the life and legacy of Mansfield, who died in a 1967 car accident when Hargitay was just 3 years old. In the film, Hargitay examines not only the loss of her mother but also long-held family secrets while reconnecting with relatives and reflecting on her own identity.

While speaking during a post-screening Q&A at New York City’s Wythe Hotel in October 2025, Hargitay described making the documentary as one of the defining experiences of her life.

“I think that telling this story was a transformative part of my life’s work,” she said. “I feel like a different human being since I made the film. It not only cleared a lot of internal space, but organized me in a new way. And I’m so proud to be my mother’s daughter.”

The documentary has also earned two Critics Choice Documentary Awards nominations, for Best First Documentary Feature and Best Biographical Documentary, with winners set to be announced on Nov. 9.

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For Hargitay, however, the film’s greatest success has been its impact on viewers.

“I hope that people come away with the universality of the film, and they realize it’s a family story,” she said. “I’d like to think of it as a gentle invitation to look at our own families.”

The actress added, “And that’s what has been the biggest through line is that people have said, ‘I never thought I could, but now I think I can.’”

Hargitay has also spoken about discovering a new appreciation for her mother’s humor while sorting through decades of archival footage for the documentary.

The poster for ‘My Mom Jayne’Credit: HBO

“We could have built a 20-minute set section that would’ve shown that [Jayne] was a comedian. I mean really so funny and so fast and so witty and lightning sharp that then we were like, ‘Okay, we have to pick and choose,’ ” she said on the Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast.

“The archival was a gift from God. It was an embarrassment of riches. It was a blessing — and a curse because there was so much of it,” she continued.

Looking back on the emotional journey, Hargitay said she has no second thoughts about making the film.

“I have no regrets. None,” she said. “There’s so much love and healing from all factions of the family. Now we’re all one.”

The Emmy nomination arrives just after another major career announcement: Hargitay will host the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

“Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career,” she previously said in a statement. “It’s my great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards — in the 100th birthday year of my beloved NBC — and celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers.”

My Mom Jayne is streaming now on HBO Max.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”