Mariska Hargitay’s Directorial Debut ‘My Mom Jayne’ Clinches Two Creative Arts Emmys

When Mariska Hargitay stepped onto the stage at the 78th Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the applause felt less like a personal triumph and more like a tribute to a mother she’s only just begun to truly know. The award‑winning actress, best known for her long‑running role on Law & Order: SVU, has added ‘Emmy‑winning director’ to her résumé, taking home the trophies for Outstanding Documentary (or Non‑Fiction Special) and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Non‑Fiction Program.

Her film, My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay, is a love‑letter and investigative piece rolled into one. It dives deep into the life, career, and mythos of Jayne Mansfield – the 1950s bombshell and cultural icon who also happens to be Hargitay’s mother. The documentary is packed with never‑seen family photographs, home‑movie clips, and candid interviews that shed fresh light on Mansfield’s public persona and private world.

The project first sparked buzz when it debuted at Cannes in June 2025, then made a splash at the Tribeca Film Festival later that year. Since then, it’s found a home on HBO Max, where viewers can stream the intimate portrait of a star whose legacy has long been shrouded in glossy headlines.

In her acceptance speech, Hargitay sounded both humbled and awed. “My hero and friend Gloria Steinem once said, ‘Please tell your own story. The most important thing we can do for each other is to know each other through stories.’” Hargitay went on to say that making the film was “an indescribable gift” that let her meet her mother anew, frame by frame.

She also thanked the crew who helped bring the vision to life – producer Trish Adlesic, cinematographer Tony Hardmon, and the countless researchers, editors, and archivists who unearthed the hidden footage. A special shout‑out went to her husband and children, whose support she called “the space that made this possible.”

Beyond the personal significance, the win places Hargitay in rare company. The Creative Arts Emmys, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on September 5‑6, celebrate the behind‑the‑scenes craftsmanship that powers television. Hargitay will now take on a new challenge as the host of the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, joining the ranks of previous hosts who’ve both acted and directed.

She wasn’t the only documentary in the spotlight. Other nominees for Outstanding Documentary or Non‑Fiction Special included John Candy: I Like Me, Marty, Life Is Short, Mel Brooks: The 99‑Year‑Old Man!, and the nature‑focused Ocean with David Attenborough. Each of those projects, like Hargitay’s, blends archival material with fresh storytelling to preserve cultural memory.

For fans of both classic Hollywood and modern documentary filmmaking, Hargitay’s win feels like a bridge between eras – a daughter’s quest to understand her iconic mother, and a celebration of the storytellers who make those quests possible.