Your tip
RadarOnlineRadarOnline
or
Sign in with lockrMail
BREAKING NEWS

'Law and Order' Star Mariska Hargitay Gives Rare Interview About Brutal Impact of Mom's Death: 'We Didn't Have the Tools to Understand Trauma'

Photo of Mariska Hargitay
Source: MEGA

Mariska Hargitay spoke about the loss of her mother.

Nov. 13 2024, Published 12:37 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email

Mariska Hargitay has reflected on the trauma of losing her mother at a very young age.

RadarOnline.com can reveal the Law & Order: SVU star claimed everyone in her family dealt with the tragedy in their own way.

Article continues below advertisement
mariska hargitay law order rare interview moms death understand trauma
Source: MEGA

Mariska Hargitay was only 3 when her mother died.

Article continues below advertisement

During the recent Hope for Depression Research Foundation's 18th Annual HOPE Luncheon Seminar in NYC, Hargitay, 60, recalled how her mother, iconic movie star Jayne Mansfield, died when she was only 3 years old.

Mansfield tragically passed away in a car crash in 1967 at the age of 34, with Hargitay and her siblings present in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

She explained: "There was so much grief, there wasn't room to prioritize anyone. We didn't have the tools that we have now to metabolize and understand trauma."

Article continues below advertisement
mariska hargitay law order rare interview moms death understand trauma
Source: MEGA

Jayne Mansfield had four children before she tragically died in a car accident.

Article continues below advertisement

The luncheon focused on trauma and recovery, which the Law & Order actress addressed at length in her speech. She claimed she didn't develop the tools to address her past traumas until "much later in life".

Hargitay told the crowd: "I also suffered sexual trauma in my 30s. It wasn't until much later that I found the language to acknowledge it for what it was."

She expressed her gratitude towards the therapists who supported her in exploring different healing modalities, stating: "These modalities give me my life back."

MORE ON:
Mariska Hargitay

DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.

Article continues below advertisement
mariska hargitay law order rare interview moms death understand trauma
Source: MEGA

Mariska Hargitay is best known for her role in 'Law and Order: SVU'.

Article continues below advertisement

Hargitay reiterated her commitment to supporting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse through the Joyful Heart Foundation.

She emphasized the importance of responding to those who have experienced trauma, underscoring the profound impact of offering support and assistance.

In her closing remarks, she delivered a message of hope to individuals facing challenges, stating: "There is hope."

Article continues below advertisement
mariska hargitay law order rare interview moms death understand trauma
Source: MEGA

Mariska Hargitay spoke at the Depression Research Foundation's 18th Annual HOPE Luncheon Seminar in NYC.

In 2018, Hargitay revealed how she manages to "live with loss".

During an interview with People, she said: "The way I've lived with loss is to lean into it.

"As the saying goes, the only way out is through. In my life, certainly I've tried to avoid pain, loss, feeling things. But I've learned instead to real­ly lean into it, because sooner or later you have to pay the piper."

Hargitay said her experience with grief "hasn't been easy" but revealed how "on the other side, things can be so bright".

Mansfield's daughter described her mother as an "amazing, beautiful, glamor­ous sex symbol".

"She was just so ahead of her time. She was an inspiration, she had this appetite for life, and I think I share that with her."

Have a tip? Send it to us! Email RadarOnline.com at tips@radaronline.com.

More From Radar Online

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2024 RADAR ONLINE™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. RADAR ONLINE is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.