Mariska Hargitay Reclaims Her Mother’s Story in New Documentary
Mariska Hargitay is set to make her directorial debut with a new documentary titled My Mom Jayne, which explores her complicated relationship with her mother, the late actress Jayne Mansfield. According to an article by People, the documentary will premiere on HBO and Max on June 27.
The trailer for My Mom Jayne was released by HBO and features Hargitay, 61, speaking about her mother’s legacy and her own desire to understand her. As People reports, Hargitay says in the trailer, “I’ve spent my whole life distancing myself from my mother, Jayne Mansfield, the sex symbol. Her career made me want to do it differently, but I want to understand her now.” This desire for understanding is a central theme of the documentary, as Hargitay seeks to reclaim her family’s story and get to know her mother beyond her public persona.
Tragically, Hargitay was just three years old when she and her two older brothers were involved in a car accident that killed Mansfield, who was just 34 at the time. As noted by People, the documentary will feature Hargitay’s siblings, including Jayne Marie Mansfield, Mickey Hargitay Jr., Zoltan Hargitay, and Tony Cimber, who share their own memories and experiences with their mother.
In the trailer, Hargitay’s siblings offer a glimpse into their own relationships with Mansfield. Mickey Hargitay Jr. is quoted by People as saying, “I don’t know how the hell you got me to do this,” while Jayne Marie shares a fond memory of spending time with their mother, saying, “In the beginning, I had her to myself. She’d take me everywhere.” These personal anecdotes provide a nuanced understanding of Mansfield’s life and legacy, and offer a counterpoint to her public image as a sex symbol.
The documentary also explores the disconnect between Mansfield’s public persona and her private life. As reported by People, Mickey Hargitay Jr. notes that his mother was “really smart,” while Hargitay herself discusses the “persona” that her mother presented to the world. This tension between Mansfield’s public and private selves is a key theme of the documentary, and one that Hargitay is eager to explore.
In addition to her siblings, Hargitay also addresses her own complicated feelings about her mother’s legacy. As quoted by People, she says, “I’ve heard things that are really ugly.” Her youngest brother, Tony, responds, “I don’t know that I want to know those ugly things,” highlighting the challenges of confronting painful family secrets.
The documentary has already premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where Hargitay revealed a shocking family secret: that her biological father is not Mickey Hargitay, the man who raised her, but rather a former Las Vegas entertainer named Nelson Sardelli. According to People, Hargitay opened up about this revelation in an interview with Vanity Fair, saying that she went to see Sardelli perform when she was 30 years old and was met with tears and a sense of longing.
The North American premiere of My Mom Jayne will take place during the Tribeca Film Festival on June 13, before the documentary debuts on HBO and Max on June 27. As noted by People, Hargitay says in the trailer, “I want to know her as Jayne. My mom Jayne.” This desire for understanding and connection is at the heart of the documentary, and one that is sure to resonate with audiences.
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