.jpeg "Mariska Hargitay Wins Two Emmys for My Mom Jayne")
Hargitay won Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program. The wins came as the 78th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards celebrations began in Los Angeles.
In My Mom Jayne, Hargitay looks back at her mother's career, personal life and the mystery surrounding her own biological father. The project became deeply personal for the actress, who said it took her time to realize that the story was hers to tell.
While accepting the award for Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Hargitay paid tribute to feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who died Wednesday at 92.
“My hero and friend Gloria Steinem recently said, ‘Please tell your own story,’” Hargitay said. “The most important thing we can do for each other is to know each other through stories. I got to know my mother through telling the story. It’s a gift that’s indescribable.”
Hargitay shared a similar message while accepting her directing award.
“I’m utterly overwhelmed,” she said. Recalling the pandemic, when she decided to make the film, she explained that it took her a while to understand that she could—and should—direct the story herself.
She also encouraged women to tell their own stories.
“I just want that invitation to go out, especially to women,” Hargitay said. “I’m so excited to explore and discover and innovate new ways of telling stories from half of the earth’s population because we don’t hear from you enough.”
A year of saying yes
The Emmy wins cap an extraordinary period for Hargitay. She is preparing to enter her 28th season as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU, while also celebrating her Broadway debut in Every Brilliant Thing.
Now, she is preparing for another major first: hosting the televised Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14 on NBC and Peacock.
Hargitay said the decision reflects a new approach to life—one in which she is willing to take chances instead of being held back by fear.
“I’m at a place in my life where I just say yes,” she said backstage after her wins. “I said yes to Broadway, and I said yes to hosting the Emmys.”
“It’s a year of firsts and a year of saying yes,” she added. “Not limiting myself or not being governed by fear. What if it all works out?”
Other major Emmy winners
My Mom Jayne faced strong competition in the Documentary or Nonfiction Special category, including John Candy: I Like Me, Marty, Life Is Short, Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, and Ocean with David Attenborough.
Ocean with David Attenborough also picked up awards for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program.
In the documentary directing category, Hargitay competed against filmmakers including Lawrence Kasdan, Judd Apatow, Michael Bonfiglio, Alexandria Stapleton and Rebecca Miller.
Miller had reason to celebrate as well. Her five-part documentary series Mr. Scorsese, about legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese, won Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
The series features interviews with major figures including Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jodie Foster, Paul Schrader, Nicholas Pileggi, Spike Lee and Daniel Day-Lewis, who is Miller’s husband.
Scorsese also gives intimate interviews in the series, reflecting on his career, relationships and childhood in New York City, including his struggles with asthma.
For Hargitay, however, the night was about something much more personal: finding a way to understand her mother and sharing that story with the world.
And with two Emmys now in hand, her next challenge is waiting—hosting television's biggest awards night.
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