Mariska Hargitay won two Primetime Emmys on Saturday in Los Angeles for My Mom Jayne, her HBO documentary about mother Jayne Mansfield, ahead of hosting the ceremony's main broadcast next week.
TL;DR
- Hargitay won Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program.
- The wins came at the Creative Arts Emmys, part of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
- It is her first Emmy in 20 years and her first as a filmmaker.
- She hosts the televised Primetime Emmys on NBC and Peacock on September 14.
What Hargitay won and why it matters
Mariska Hargitay, the actress and first-time documentary director, picked up both prizes on the opening night of the Creative Arts Emmys at the Peacock Theater. According to Deadline, My Mom Jayne took Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, and Hargitay separately won Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program.
The HBO film, which explores the life of Hargitay's mother, actress Jayne Mansfield, marks her feature directorial debut. It also unpacks a long-held mystery over her biological father, Nelson Sardelli.
Per Gold Derby, it is Hargitay's first Emmy win in 20 years and her first as a filmmaker. She previously won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2006 for Law & Order: SVU, and holds a News & Documentary Emmy as a producer on 2018's I Am Evidence.
A tribute to Gloria Steinem
Accepting the documentary prize, Hargitay paid tribute to feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who died on Wednesday at age 92. According to Forbes, Steinem had recently told her to "tell your own story," a line Hargitay repeated on stage.
Just Jared reports the film was also nominated for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, a category it lost to Ocean with David Attenborough.
UK viewers can already watch the film
UK streaming fact: My Mom Jayne premiered in the UK on Sky Documentaries and streamed on NOW from July 12, 2025, months ahead of its Emmy recognition, according to reporting shared on X.
What's next for Hargitay
Hargitay hosts the main Primetime Emmy telecast for the first time on September 14, broadcasting on NBC and Peacock. Season 28 of Law & Order: SVU premieres October 8 on NBC, closing in on the show's 600th episode, Gold Derby notes.
Related reading: Jayne Marie Mansfield: age, height, wiki, bio, net worth and husband and Sherman Williams: age, height, wiki, bio, net worth and husband.
