<p>-
- Mariska Hargitay feels 'free and unburdened' after 'My Mom Jayne'</p>
<p>Pamela Avila, USA TODAYOctober 13, 2025 at 12:55 AM</p>
<p>3</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES − Mariska Hargitay knows the only way out is through.</p>
<p>Earlier this summer, with her touching HBO documentary "My Mom Jayne," the "Law & Order: SVU" star shared with the world a different side of her late mother, Jayne Mansfield, the 1950s movie star and pinup model.</p>
<p>Hargitay, 61, was just 3 when she was involved in the car crash that killed Mansfield.</p>
<p>The actress, who has shared that she has no memory of her mother, said at Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Shine Away conference on Oct. 11 that the trauma of her loss came to a head in recent years. For Hargitay, Mansfield was "somebody that I was afraid and scared of" because "there was just so much hurt and mess and yuck," she said.</p>
<p>"I thought, 'The only way I'm going to ever be free and unburden myself is to find out what happened,' and I was yearning and longing so much for my mom, to figure out who she was, where did I come from, and who am I?" Hargitay said. "And I got those answers."</p>
<p>'My Mom Jayne': Mariska Hargitay finds peace revealing family secrets in new documentary</p>
<p>Mariska Hargitay speaks at the "Connecting Passion to Purpose" panel during Hello Sunshine's annual Shine Away conference on Oct. 11, 2025.</p>
<p>In "My Mom Jayne," Hargitay unveils a long-held family secret: that her biological father is singer Nelson Sardelli, not Mickey Hargitay, the former Mr. Universe bodybuilder and Mansfield's second husband, who lovingly raised Mariska.</p>
<p>It also touches on how Hargitay intentionally worked to avoid the career pitfalls her mother fell into. (Hargitay has starred as compassionate investigator Olivia Benson on "SVU" since the NBC procedural debuted in 1999.)</p>
<p>The actress became emotional throughout the panel when speaking of her mother and the sense of purpose she felt after reclaiming her mother's narrative. Although Hargitay made the documentary in two-and-a-half years, she felt she had "been preparing to make it my entire life."</p>
<p>"I feel like that's what I've been doing, getting ready to make it and building the infrastructure inside me so I could tell the story in a clear, concise way, while battling all these demons," she said.</p>
<p>Reese Witherspoon: The actress tearfully pays tribute to 'incredible' Diane Keaton, her first mentor</p>
<p>Scroll through to see the best moments from weekend, starting with the Hello Sunshine founder during her opening remarks. "We're going to get offline, off our scroll, and then we're going to see who are these people who we follow and we're so interested in their lives," she said. "I felt like if we could experience joy and start to have conversations in person, that would really just fuel your soul. And I want you guys to all know that this weekend isn't just about who we should be or how we ought to show up, it's just really trusting who you are."</p>
<p>" style=padding-bottom:56%>Reese Witherspoon continues to foster community and empower women with her third annual Hello Sunshine Shine Away conference held in Los Angeles on Oct. 11-12.</p>
<p>Day 1 featured conversations with Mariska Hargitay, Chrissy Teigen, Lilly Singh, Karen Pittman, Monica Lewinsky, Brittany Snow and more.</p>
<p>Scroll through to see the best moments from weekend, starting with the Hello Sunshine founder during her opening remarks. "We're going to get offline, off our scroll, and then we're going to see who are these people who we follow and we're so interested in their lives," she said. "I felt like if we could experience joy and start to have conversations in person, that would really just fuel your soul. And I want you guys to all know that this weekend isn't just about who we should be or how we ought to show up, it's just really trusting who you are."</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/fluowdT class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Reese Witherspoon continues to foster community and empower women with her third annual Hello Sunshine Shine Away conference held in Los Angeles on Oct. 11-12.</p>
<p>Day 1 featured conversations with Mariska Hargitay, Chrissy Teigen, Lilly Singh, Karen Pittman, Monica Lewinsky, Brittany Snow and more.</p>
<p>Scroll through to see the best moments from weekend, starting with the Hello Sunshine founder during her opening remarks. "We're going to get offline, off our scroll, and then we're going to see who are these people who we follow and we're so interested in their lives," she said. "I felt like if we could experience joy and start to have conversations in person, that would really just fuel your soul. And I want you guys to all know that this weekend isn't just about who we should be or how we ought to show up, it's just really trusting who you are."</p>
<p>">Reese Witherspoon continues to foster community and empower women with her third annual Hello Sunshine Shine Away conference held in Los Angeles on Oct. 11-12.</p>
<p>Day 1 featured conversations with Mariska Hargitay, Chrissy Teigen, Lilly Singh, Karen Pittman, Monica Lewinsky, Brittany Snow and more.</p>
<p>Scroll through to see the best moments from weekend, starting with the Hello Sunshine founder during her opening remarks. "We're going to get offline, off our scroll, and then we're going to see who are these people who we follow and we're so interested in their lives," she said. "I felt like if we could experience joy and start to have conversations in person, that would really just fuel your soul. And I want you guys to all know that this weekend isn't just about who we should be or how we ought to show up, it's just really trusting who you are."</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/fluowdT class=caas-img>Karen Pittman and Mariska Hargitay speak at the "Connecting Passion to Purpose" panel during Hello Sunshine's Shine Away event.</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/FUWVZXD class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Karen Pittman and Mariska Hargitay speak at the "Connecting Passion to Purpose" panel during Hello Sunshine's Shine Away event.</p>
<p>">Karen Pittman and Mariska Hargitay speak at the "Connecting Passion to Purpose" panel during Hello Sunshine's Shine Away event.</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/FUWVZXD class=caas-img>This year's Shine Away opened with a stand-up set from Yvonne Orji.</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/i4Q6Irp class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>This year's Shine Away opened with a stand-up set from Yvonne Orji.</p>
<p>">This year's Shine Away opened with a stand-up set from Yvonne Orji.</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/i4Q6Irp class=caas-img>Reese Witherspoon (left) and Karen Pittman</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/kW6viP8 class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Reese Witherspoon (left) and Karen Pittman</p>
<p>">Reese Witherspoon (left) and Karen Pittman</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/kW6viP8 class=caas-img>Mariska Hargitay (left) and Karen Pittman</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/1KrzVg9 class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Mariska Hargitay (left) and Karen Pittman</p>
<p>">Mariska Hargitay (left) and Karen Pittman</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/1KrzVg9 class=caas-img>Reese Witherspoon and author Harlan Coben speak during the "Inside the Writers Room: Mastering Fearless Storytelling" panel.</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/uR3c6ye class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Reese Witherspoon and author Harlan Coben speak during the "Inside the Writers Room: Mastering Fearless Storytelling" panel.</p>
<p>">Reese Witherspoon and author Harlan Coben speak during the "Inside the Writers Room: Mastering Fearless Storytelling" panel.</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/uR3c6ye class=caas-img>Monica Lewinsky at the "Letting Go of the Lies We Tell Ourselves: The Power of Reclaiming Your Narrative" panel.</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/tUf2Ape class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Monica Lewinsky at the "Letting Go of the Lies We Tell Ourselves: The Power of Reclaiming Your Narrative" panel.</p>
<p>">Monica Lewinsky at the "Letting Go of the Lies We Tell Ourselves: The Power of Reclaiming Your Narrative" panel.</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/tUf2Ape class=caas-img>Mariska Hargitay</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/bYrVMvB class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Mariska Hargitay</p>
<p>">Mariska Hargitay</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/bYrVMvB class=caas-img>Monica Lewinsky</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/adbleOC class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Monica Lewinsky</p>
<p>">Monica Lewinsky</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/adbleOC class=caas-img>Karen Pittman (from left), Reese Witherspoon and Mariska Hargitay.</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/8fX2KVw class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Karen Pittman (from left), Reese Witherspoon and Mariska Hargitay.</p>
<p>">Karen Pittman (from left), Reese Witherspoon and Mariska Hargitay.</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/8fX2KVw class=caas-img>Reese Witherspoon</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/ysqCKH7 class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Reese Witherspoon</p>
<p>">Reese Witherspoon</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/ysqCKH7 class=caas-img>Zosia Mamet</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/DLNwKsz class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Zosia Mamet</p>
<p>">Zosia Mamet</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/DLNwKsz class=caas-img>Brittany Snow (left) and Malin Åkerman</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/fsBuHai class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Brittany Snow (left) and Malin Åkerman</p>
<p>">Brittany Snow (left) and Malin Åkerman</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/fsBuHai class=caas-img>Harlan Coben</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/w8ka6dl class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Harlan Coben</p>
<p>">Harlan Coben</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/w8ka6dl class=caas-img>Zosia Mamet speaks onstage at the "How to Build Main Character Energy" panel.</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/aAJng8k class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Zosia Mamet speaks onstage at the "How to Build Main Character Energy" panel.</p>
<p>">Zosia Mamet speaks onstage at the "How to Build Main Character Energy" panel.</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/aAJng8k class=caas-img>Danielle Robay (from left), Brittany Snow and Jaspre Guest speak at "Dear Future Me: Power to the Pen."</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/yZAjRD5 class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Danielle Robay (from left), Brittany Snow and Jaspre Guest speak at "Dear Future Me: Power to the Pen."</p>
<p>">Danielle Robay (from left), Brittany Snow and Jaspre Guest speak at "Dear Future Me: Power to the Pen."</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/yZAjRD5 class=caas-img>Jennie Garth (left) and Jen Hatmaker speak at "Reinvention With Grace: Embracing Life's Pivots."</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/jVIKEqt class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Jennie Garth (left) and Jen Hatmaker speak at "Reinvention With Grace: Embracing Life's Pivots."</p>
<p>">Jennie Garth (left) and Jen Hatmaker speak at "Reinvention With Grace: Embracing Life's Pivots."</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/jVIKEqt class=caas-img>Radhika Jones</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/1qha28v class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Radhika Jones</p>
<p>">Radhika Jones</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/1qha28v class=caas-img>Mariska Hargitay</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/jSZFCNx class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Mariska Hargitay</p>
<p>">Mariska Hargitay</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/jSZFCNx class=caas-img>Sadeqa Johnson (from left), Clare Leslie Hall, Marissa Stapley and Zosia Mamet.</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/gsuABjq class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Sadeqa Johnson (from left), Clare Leslie Hall, Marissa Stapley and Zosia Mamet.</p>
<p>">Sadeqa Johnson (from left), Clare Leslie Hall, Marissa Stapley and Zosia Mamet.</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/gsuABjq class=caas-img>Danielle Robay speaks onstage at "Dear Future Me: Power to the Pen."</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/8Gcyatf class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Danielle Robay speaks onstage at "Dear Future Me: Power to the Pen."</p>
<p>">Danielle Robay speaks onstage at "Dear Future Me: Power to the Pen."</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/8Gcyatf class=caas-img>Clare Leslie Hall, author of the Reese's Book Club pick "Broken Country," attends Day 1 of Hello Sunshine's Shine Away conference.</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/CG3TrVc class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Clare Leslie Hall, author of the Reese's Book Club pick "Broken Country," attends Day 1 of Hello Sunshine's Shine Away conference.</p>
<p>">Clare Leslie Hall, author of the Reese's Book Club pick "Broken Country," attends Day 1 of Hello Sunshine's Shine Away conference.</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/CG3TrVc class=caas-img>Sadeqa Johnson, author of Reese's Book Club pick "The House of Eve."</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/qkjnzSF class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Sadeqa Johnson, author of Reese's Book Club pick "The House of Eve."</p>
<p>">Sadeqa Johnson, author of Reese's Book Club pick "The House of Eve."</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/qkjnzSF class=caas-img>Emily Everett, author of Reese's Book Club pick "All That Life Can Afford."</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/SbYHcLM class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Emily Everett, author of Reese's Book Club pick "All That Life Can Afford."</p>
<p>">Emily Everett, author of Reese's Book Club pick "All That Life Can Afford."</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/SbYHcLM class=caas-img>Kanika Chadda-Gupta (from left) , Jennie Garth and Jen Hatmaker at "Reinvention With Grace: Embracing Life's Pivots."</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/Zt2KlHS class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Kanika Chadda-Gupta (from left) , Jennie Garth and Jen Hatmaker at "Reinvention With Grace: Embracing Life's Pivots."</p>
<p>">Kanika Chadda-Gupta (from left) , Jennie Garth and Jen Hatmaker at "Reinvention With Grace: Embracing Life's Pivots."</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/Zt2KlHS class=caas-img>Ashley Jordan, author of Reese's Book Club pick "Once Upon a Time in Dollywood," signs books.</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/NcmzjCY class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Ashley Jordan, author of Reese's Book Club pick "Once Upon a Time in Dollywood," signs books.</p>
<p>">Ashley Jordan, author of Reese's Book Club pick "Once Upon a Time in Dollywood," signs books.</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/NcmzjCY class=caas-img>Jennie Garth</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/8Av0ak3 class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Jennie Garth</p>
<p>">Jennie Garth</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/8Av0ak3 class=caas-img>Yvonne Orji</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/itWxhoZ class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Yvonne Orji</p>
<p>">Yvonne Orji</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/itWxhoZ class=caas-img>Malin Åkerman</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/TjOXAiL class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Malin Åkerman</p>
<p>">Malin Åkerman</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/TjOXAiL class=caas-img>Elizabeth Mathis</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/QmjlIqu class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Elizabeth Mathis</p>
<p>">Elizabeth Mathis</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/QmjlIqu class=caas-img>Karen Pittman (left) and Mariska Hargitay</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/h5fbk1D class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Karen Pittman (left) and Mariska Hargitay</p>
<p>">Karen Pittman (left) and Mariska Hargitay</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/h5fbk1D class=caas-img>Reese Witherspoon (left) and Harlan Coben</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/BFfjmK2 class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Reese Witherspoon (left) and Harlan Coben</p>
<p>">Reese Witherspoon (left) and Harlan Coben</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/BFfjmK2 class=caas-img>Karen Pittman</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/35nMef6 class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Karen Pittman</p>
<p>">Karen Pittman</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/35nMef6 class=caas-img>Yvonne Orji (left) and Reese Witherspoon</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/vJZL7VG class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Yvonne Orji (left) and Reese Witherspoon</p>
<p>">Yvonne Orji (left) and Reese Witherspoon</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/vJZL7VG class=caas-img>Ali Wentworth (from left), Neha Ruch and Poppy Harlow at "How to Build Main Character Energy." panel.</p>
<p>" data-src=https://ift.tt/RFh2Sd8 class=caas-img data-headline="Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference" data-caption="</p>
<p>Ali Wentworth (from left), Neha Ruch and Poppy Harlow at "How to Build Main Character Energy." panel.</p>
<p>">Ali Wentworth (from left), Neha Ruch and Poppy Harlow at "How to Build Main Character Energy." panel.</p>
<p>" src=https://ift.tt/RFh2Sd8 class=caas-img></p>
<p>1 / 35Best moments from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine 2025 conference</p>
<p>Reese Witherspoon continues to foster community and empower women with her third annual Hello Sunshine Shine Away conference held in Los Angeles on Oct. 11-12.</p>
<p>Day 1 featured conversations with Mariska Hargitay, Chrissy Teigen, Lilly Singh, Karen Pittman, Monica Lewinsky, Brittany Snow and more.</p>
<p>Scroll through to see the best moments from weekend, starting with the Hello Sunshine founder during her opening remarks. "We're going to get offline, off our scroll, and then we're going to see who are these people who we follow and we're so interested in their lives," she said. "I felt like if we could experience joy and start to have conversations in person, that would really just fuel your soul. And I want you guys to all know that this weekend isn't just about who we should be or how we ought to show up, it's just really trusting who you are."</p>
<p>It was during the pandemic that she had "time to sit with some things that I sort of pushed away," including the boxes of her letters and photos that people "so generously" sent her, sharing stories of her mother.</p>
<p>Joining Hargitay for the first panel of the day, titled "Connecting Passion to Purpose," was Hello Sunshine founder Reese Witherspoon and "And Just Like That …" actress Karen Pittman, who also co stars in "The Morning Show" with Witherspoon.</p>
<p>'The Morning Show' actress Karen Pittman reflects on her late mother's life</p>
<p>Karen Pittman (left) and Mariska Hargitay speak at the "Connecting Passion to Purpose" panel during Hello Sunshine's Shine Away conference on Oct. 11, 2025, in Universal City, California.</p>
<p>A common thread throughout the panel was that of mothers, resiliency and how the three Hollywood actresses connect their passions with their purpose.</p>
<p>Touching on Hargitay's comments about reconnecting with who her mother was, Pittman said she had her "own trauma to deal with and sort through," and self-expression and acting became "a way to manage my hurt and my pain."</p>
<p>"You get to a certain place in your work, though, and that trauma, that woundedness, becomes a crippling obstacle to actually doing good work and so you have to go back in and find another way," Pittman added.</p>
<p>She also reflected on the final months of her mother's life. "She was so sad that she didn't get to do all the things she wanted to do in her life, so part of what inspired me to move forward in my own career was saying, 'I'm going to finish the journey. I'm going to take the baton from my mother and run the rest of that race.' "</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mariska Hargitay talks mom Jayne Mansfield, unpacking her trauma</p>
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