Key Highlights
- Mariska Hargitay revealed the correct pronunciation of her Hungarian name on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast.
- Hargitay explained that her name is a nickname for Maria and means “Little Maria” in Hungarian.
- The actress has been dealing with mispronunciations of her name, even from family members.
- She premiered her documentary “My Mom Jayne” at the Tribeca Festival in June 2025.
American Actress Mariska Hargitay Clarifies Pronunciation on Good Hang Podcast
In a recent episode of Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, Emmy-winning actress Mariska Hargitay addressed the frequent mispronunciations of her name. The 61-year-old star of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit explained that her Hungarian name is a nickname for Maria and means “Little Maria.” She elaborated, “In Hungarian, the ‘ka’ or ‘ke’ at the end of the name is just like a little endearment. So the name is actually ‘Maria’ after my grandmother, both of them, Hungarian and Italian.”
The actress has faced challenges with the correct pronunciation from various sources, including family members.
She recounted an incident where her cousin, who she had known since 1994, repeatedly called her “Muh-ris-kuh” during a lunch. In response to this persistent mispronunciation, Hargitay stated, “I let it go. I just kind of went with it.” Despite this, the issue has persisted on the set of Law & Order: SVU, where she noted that her co-stars sometimes mistakenly call her by the wrong name.
To avoid having to repeatedly correct people, Hargitay adapted a workaround for the call sheet. She admitted, “I get called Muh-ritz-uh, Mar-see-kuh, Mar-kis-kuh.” However, she also mentioned that these mispronunciations have become somewhat of a running joke among her colleagues.
Exploring Family History and Legacy
Beyond addressing the pronunciation issue, Hargitay also shared details about her documentary “My Mom Jayne,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2025. The film delves into her mother’s tragic death and the circumstances surrounding it. In an interview with Stephen Colbert, she expressed that making this movie was a personal journey, stating, “In a way I feel like I’ve been preparing my entire life to make it.”
Hargitay revealed some startling revelations about her family background in the documentary.
She shared that her biological father is former Las Vegas entertainer Nelson Sardelli, not the man who raised her, Mickey Hargitay. Additionally, she discussed the harrowing experience of being left behind during a car crash at just three years old. Her older brother, Zoltan, recounted how they survived in the backseat while their mother and other passengers tragically perished.
Legacy and Inspiration
The documentary “My Mom Jayne” not only serves as an emotional exploration of Hargitay’s past but also stands as a testament to her resilience and dedication. She spoke about discovering boxes of fan letters during the pandemic, which inspired her to create this film. In her words, “I had the time to sit with each letter and people had sent me things that were truly a gift.” This project allowed Hargitay to connect with fans who shared personal stories and memorabilia related to her mother.
Reflecting on the impact of making this documentary, Mariska expressed, “So, I said, ‘I think I wanna dig in here,’ about feeling inspired to create the film. It’s a deeply personal project that reflects not only my relationship with my mother but also my own identity and legacy.”
