From her mother’s tragic death to a shocking assault revelation — Mariska Hargitay bares it all.
The beloved Law & Order: SVU star joined Alex Cooper on the June 25 episode of Call Her Daddy, and no topic was off-limits. From emotional childhood memories to her bond with Taylor Swift, Hargitay delivered a rare, raw, and unfiltered look into her life behind Olivia Benson.
Here are the most jaw-dropping takeaways:
🕊 Losing Jayne Mansfield
Hargitay opened up about her mother, the late Hollywood bombshell Jayne Mansfield, who died in a tragic car crash when Mariska was only 3.
“It’s been a life of longing,” she said, “trying to reconstruct connection.”
Her upcoming documentary My Mom Jayne (out June 27) explores that deep emotional journey.
🧬 Biological Father Bombshell
In a twist worthy of a SVU plotline, Hargitay revealed that Nelson Sardelli — not Mickey Hargitay — is her biological father.
She confronted Mickey once, but he shut it down.
“I pretended I believed him, and we never spoke of it again.”
🚔 Her Real-Life Arrest
Yes, Mariska once got thrown in jail — over $3,000 in unpaid parking tickets in the '80s.
“Stop signs were optional,” she joked.
She made friends in jail and walked out with phone numbers!
💔 Her Sexual Assault Story
Hargitay revealed she was raped by a friend in her 30s — a story she kept private until 2024.
“I blamed myself… then it became clear what happened.”
She credits her husband, Peter Hermann, for helping her name the trauma.
“Now I’m grateful for that part of me that said: you’re not ready.”
🎬 The Taylor Swift Connection
She gushed about appearing in Swift’s “Bad Blood” video:
“It was the most fun ever… She’s so young but shows us how to be fearless.”
Hargitay says she learned from Taylor and called her “warm, smart, and kind.”
🔮 A Psychic Predicted Her Fame
A psychic once told her:
“You’re going to be famous for that face.”
Six months later? She booked SVU.
💞 Benson & Stabler Endgame?
She calls co-star Christopher Meloni her “soulmate”:
“We’re just connected… If it’s right, maybe in the last episode [they get together].”
🎥 Her Favorite SVU Episode
Season 24, Episode 15 – “King of the Moon”
She directed it and proudly called it her most meaningful work.
🔔 Call Her Daddy is now streaming.
📺 Law & Order: SVU returns this fall on NBC.
