On Mother’s Day 2025, actress Mariska Hargitay shared a personal message in honor of her late mother, Jayne Mansfield. Jayne Mansfield was a well-known actress in the 1950s and ‘60s. She died in a tragic car crash when Mariska was just three years old. Despite what happened, Mariska chooses to carry her mother’s memory with so much grace and love.
Her tribute was emotional and brought back pieces of family history that many may not have known. Through a touching Instagram post and an old family photo, Mariska reminded the world of the impact her mother had, both publicly and within their home.
Mariska Hargitay’s Mother’s Day tribute to mom Jayne Mansfield
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On Instagram, Mariska posted, “Happy Mother’s Day to #MyMomJayne. I carry your strength, your determination, and your love with me every day.” It was a brief message, but it said a lot. It was a moment of reflection from a daughter who never got to grow up with her mom, yet still feels her presence greatly.
She also shared a rare family photo taken in Zurich back in 1960. In the picture: her mom, Jayne; dad, Mickey Hargitay; her sister, Jayne-Marie; and brothers Mickey Jr. and Zoltan. Mariska wasn’t born yet. That same day, which was Mother’s Day, their family had been named “Family of the Year” by a hospital in New York. It was a bittersweet memory, one that highlighted joy from the past and the love still being carried today.
Mariska Hargitay is set to release a documentary about her late mother
In 1967, Jayne Mansfield was killed in a car crash when she was just 34 years old. Mariska and her brothers were in the back seat, sleeping, when the car hit a slow-moving truck on a dark road in Mississippi. The adults in the front died instantly, but the children survived with minor injuries. That night changed everything for Mariska.
Almost 60 years later, she is telling her mother’s story through a documentary, My Mom Jayne, which will premiere on HBO in June 2025. It is her first time directing a feature-length film, and it is personal. The documentary includes interviews, home videos, and photos that paint a fuller picture of Jayne Mansfield as a mother and a woman. Mariska says she is finally getting to know the mom she lost too soon.