Mariska Hargitay opted for a personal story as her directorial debut. The "SVU" star is exploring her mother's story in a documentary called "My Mom Jayne," based on the life of Jayne Mansfield, a Hollywood bombshell who tragically died at the age of 34. Hargitay lost her mother when she was only three years old, with the death having a deep impact on the rest of her life.
HBO is distributing the film, and shared some details in a press release, including the fact that the it explores Hargitay's search as she tries to understand and get to know her mother "for the first time." The documentary features interviews, never-before-seen photos, and home movies, painting a personal image of Mansfield.
"This movie is a labor of love and longing. It’s a search for the mother I never knew, an integration of a part of myself I’d never owned, and a reclaiming of my mother’s story and my own truth," said Hargitay in a statement.
"I’ve always believed there is strength in vulnerability, and the process of making this film has confirmed that belief like never before.”
The film will premiere this June.
Who was Jayne Mansfield?
Jayne Mansfield was an actress of the '50s and '60s, who quickly became one of the era's most prominent sex symbols. She was also known for her loud personality and frank and refreshing approach to her personal life, making her one of the most emblematic actresses of her time.
Mansfield married three times and was the mother of five kids. She was allegedly romantically involved with various notorious men, including Robert and John F. Kennedy.
She died in a car crash in 1967. Hargitay and her two older siblings were also involved in the accident, but they all survived.