‘I Always Describe It as This Angel That Fell Out of the Sky’: All about Mariska Hargitay’s 3 Children

Mariska Hargitay’s journey to motherhood is truly inspiring. Known for her iconic role on “Law & Order: SVU,” her real-life story revolves around love, resilience, and the joy of raising three children. The actress’s path to building a family is filled with unexpected blessings and deep gratitude.

Mariska Hargitay’s journey into motherhood began in her early 40s when she gave birth to her first child. Despite the challenges of being a first-time mother later in life, she wholeheartedly and joyfully embraced motherhood.

Her family grew when she and her husband, actor Peter Hermann, welcomed two more children within a year. Each child brought unique blessings into their lives, and Mariska cherishes the unexpected path that led her to become a mother of three.

Long before becoming a mother, Mariska always envisioned having her own family. From a young age, she knew motherhood was part of her life plans, a desire deeply rooted in her own upbringing.

A Childhood of Glitz and Heartbreak: The Early Life of Mariska Hargitay

Mariska is an actress, who added producing and directing to her list of talents. She was born to the glamorous actress Jayne Mansfield and the former Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay on January 23, 1964.

Being born into Hollywood royalty, Mariska’s early life was surrounded by fame and glitz. This set a unique backdrop for her childhood. However, her early years were also marked by tragedy.

When Mariska was just three years old, her mother died in a car accident on June 29, 1967. This loss left a lasting scar on the actress, both physically and emotionally.

The actress expressed, “I clearly was in that frozen place for a lot of my childhood—of trying to survive, actually trying to survive. My life has been a process of unpeeling the layers and trust and trusting again.”

Despite this tragic beginning, Mariska’s parents’ legacy played a significant role in shaping her character. Her father, Mickey, raised her with discipline and love, teaching her the importance of hard work and resilience.

He ensured she had a normal upbringing. Mariska joined the swim team, ran cross-country, played volleyball, and by 1982, she was crowned Miss Beverly Hills. Despite her accomplishments, she was always aware of the darker side of life.

The actress later explained that she learned about crisis early and realized that life offers no guarantees, but we must keep moving forward and transform our experiences.

She considers this ability to be her superpower and sees it as a gift from experiencing trauma early in life. Despite these challenges, Mariska went on to live a full and fulfilling life.

Embracing Motherhood: Mariska’s Journey from Daughter to Mom

For Mariska, 2004 marked the beginning of a new phase in her life. That year, she married Peter, and on June 28, 2006, the actress welcomed her first child, August Miklos Friedrich Hermann, at 42.

Starting this journey into motherhood was easy for Mariska as she knew from a young age that she was meant for it. Despite losing her mother, she never lacked a maternal figure in her life. The actress was raised by her father’s third wife, Ellen Siano Hargitay, who never made her feel like an outsider.

Mariska reminisced, “I called her Mom. She really claimed us. She never had biological kids of her own, and to this day we are her kids. So we were blessed that she really embraced us and loved us so quickly. And I was very fortunate to have a maternal figure in my life after such a horrific accident.”

Additionally, while Ellen’s motherly act prepared Mariska for being a mom, it also stirred in her the desire to have children by other means. The actress had grown up realizing that being a mother did not have to be biological.

A Dream Fulfilled: The Adoption of Amaya Josephine

After a few years of becoming parents, Mariska and Peter, who came from big families, decided it was time to expand theirs. They were also not the only ones clamoring for more kids around the house. Their son August also wanted siblings.

However, the actress was over 40, and at her age at the time, pregnancies were never easy. Knowing she and her husband had so much love to give, Mariska was hopeful. She said, “I was really letting the chips fall as they might, because I do think so much is up to God.”

Mariska didn’t know how she was going to have more children, but she knew it was something that would happen. The actress remarked, “I always said, ‘I don’t know how this is going to end up. I don’t know if I’m going to get pregnant and have twins.’”

Despite having no clue, there was something she was sure of, and that was adoption. She recalled not knowing if someone would leave a baby on her doorstep. Nevertheless, she said, “But I really did think that down the line, Peter and I would adopt a child. That was always part of the plan.”

In early April 2011, Mariska and Peter’s plan came to fruition as they welcomed their second child, Amaya Josephine Hermann. Their daughter had been born in the United States about a week before her adoption.

As soon as the couple decided to adopt, they did not limit themselves as they considered international and domestic adoption. Mariska revealed they had talked about the idea of mixed-race adoptions, and were excited to become a multi-racial family.

The actress’s excitement began even before Amaya joined the family. Mariska had revealed, “I’m deliriously happy. From the minute she was born, she was just surprisingly alert and so full of love.”

The second time Mother was not alone in her excitement. August, who was less than five at the time, was also happy to have a baby sister. His Mom disclosed, “He is over the moon. He calls her his baby because he says the whole thing was his idea. He always talks about how he’s going to protect her. He’s going to be a great big brother.”

A Brother’s Dream: The Joyous Arrival of Andrew Nicolas

August, who prided himself as a big brother, was very hands-on in his sister’s life. He reportedly even participated in picking out her name. However, seeing as he thought it was his idea for her to join the family, he wanted yet another sibling.

Six months after Amaya came home as a newborn, August’s wish was fulfilled as he welcomed his baby brother, Andrew Nicolas Hermann, in October 2011. This time, Andrew was not a newborn, as he had been born in the summer of that year.

Mariska noted, “August thinks this was all his idea! He said, ‘I want a baby sister,’ and Amaya came. Then he said, ‘I want a baby brother,’ and Andrew came. August is feeling pretty good and pretty powerful!”

While August Miklos Friedrich Hermann felt powerful, Mariska was feeling a range of positive emotions. She said, “We adopted Amaya, and Andrew, I always describe it as this angel that fell out of the sky, because he was a little unexpected. [sic]”

Andrew Nicolas, Peter Hermann, and Mariska Hargitay at the ceremony honoring Mariska Hargitay with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 8, 2013, in Hollywood. | Source: Getty Images

The adoption of Andrew was not something Peter and Mariska had planned for at the time it happened. The couple had initially planned to adopt another baby a year or more after Amaya joined their household.

However, things happened differently. The actress revealed that their lawyer suddenly called them to inform them about Andrew. Their lawyer noted that it was an amazing opportunity, and the couple, in that moment, had never been more sure about having him in their lives.

The swiftness and timing of Andrew joining their family makes the actress believe her son “fell out of the sky.” Nevertheless, Mariska knows that it’s not an easy journey.

She once remarked, “I’m not gonna lie, there were wrenching moments. I say to everybody, ‘Adoption is not for the faint of heart.’” But, on some days, the actress feels like she’s living in a dream world. She said, “I just sit and pinch myself.”

Mariska Hargitay with Amaya, Andrew, and August at The Children’s Museum Of The East End 5th Annual Family Fair on July 20, 2013, in Bridgehampton, New York. | Source: Getty Images

Family and Fulfillment: Mariska Hargitay on Life as a Mother of Three

At 47, Mariska, who initially didn’t think it was possible to love more than one kid, had become a mom of three. She said, “You know you have one kid, and then you think, oh my gosh, I’ll never love another kid, and then the second one comes, and you can’t believe that you love them, and then the third one fell out of sky.”

Becoming a mother did not only teach Mariska about her capacity to love, it did more. She noted, “Becoming a parent erased many of my negative childhood feelings and filled them in with something new,” some of which include trying out new cultures when it comes to their cuisines.

The actress is not the only one to have spoken to the media about their family of five. Peter Hermann’s love for his family is always evident even though gets private about their kids. However, he expressed his thoughts on the unconventional manner in which their family grew.

The actor divulged, “It’s funny, I always get so private about our kids, but I think that the easiest way or the easiest answer is we just wanted a bigger family and we feel incredibly blessed.”

In 2018, Mariska also opened up about her life with the kids as she graced the cover of People’s magazine. She said, “The thing that’s made me a better parent is my kids. Because they taught me to really listen. My husband is my North Star, and my kids are my teachers.”

Not only did they make her a better parent, they also gave her something perfect in life. The actress revealed, “Our family is so perfect, or at least perfect for me. Together we’re just this whole, happy, joyful, chaotic, crazy unit. I’ve never known anything that was more right.”

Despite having a crazy and chaotic unit, Mariska and Peter work together to get the results they desire. Even though they have different parenting styles, the couple complement each other, with the actress revealing that her husband knows everything she doesn’t know.

Shortly before turning 60 in 2024, Mariska reflected on her life’s journey, career, motherhood, and more. The actress had countless reasons to be thankful.

Peter Hermann and Mariska Hargitay with their children, August, Andrew, and Amaya at the 2023 Stuttering Association For The Young (SAY) Benefit Gala on May 22, 2023, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

One of the things Mariska was thankful for was the timing when she started her family. She said, “I’m so grateful that I’m an older mom. Grateful that I became successful older. I don’t know if I could have handled it when I was younger.”

The actress then compared what she was like in her younger days. She remembered that in her younger years, she struggled to be present, but as she got older, she learned to accept and appreciate life more deeply.

She noted, “And now I’m going to savor this moment. I want to share my lessons and where there is pain that I can fix that really inspires me to lighten the load.”

Mariska’s journey shows her strength and love. Starting her family in her early 40s, she faced the challenges and joys of raising three children with Peter. Their story is full of unexpected blessings and deep gratitude. As she cherishes her family, Mariska inspires us to embrace life’s surprises and the power of love at any age.

Dolly Parton grew up “dirt poor,” never seeing a toilet until she was eight, and now generously donates to charities.

Dolly Parton is one of the most well-known performers in the country music scene and has been for many years. She has long been recognized for her melodic voice, inventive lyrics, and distinct sound.

Her career started when her first album, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” came out in 1967. Since then, she’s had a lot of hits, like “Jolene,” “9 to 5”, and “Coat of Many Colors.”

Also, Parton wrote and sang the epic ballad “I Will Always Love You” in 1973. Whitney Houston made the song famous in 1992.

Parton is a businesswoman, actress, author, and humanitarian, in addition to being a singer-songwriter. She has used her influence to benefit society through her music and shows.

She has always gone out of her way to be an inspiring role model for many individuals worldwide. Dolly Parton’s influence on music will last for a long time because she is such a talented artist who stands out from other country musicians.

Dolly Parton grew up in poverty and trouble. She was born on January 19, 1946, in Tennessee, the fourth of twelve children, and grew up in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River with her parents and siblings.


Her father was a sharecropper without education, while her mother was of Welsh origin. “We were dirt poor but wonderfully joyful,” Parton later stated of her family. Despite their absence of material belongings, they were overjoyed and filled with love.

Parton fell in love with music when she was young, thanks to the stories and ballads her mother told her. Parton was determined to make a name for herself, so when she graduated from high school, she moved to Nashville to start a music career.

Parton’s dedication eventually made her one of country music’s most famous musicians. Many people named her the 2021 Person of the Year for all she has accomplished as a true icon.


Parton has also done a lot of charity work for her career, which shows how much she cares about other people.

She thinks that giving back will help others who are going through similar difficulties achieve success as she did despite their terrible circumstances.Dolly Parton reflected on her humble beginnings growing up in a low-income family.

Although meals were limited, and they frequently slept three to a bed, her parents could put a roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, and clothes on their backs for their children.

Despite their lack of financial resources, they were surrounded by others who suffered far harder than they did.

The family’s modest cabin was barely big enough for them, so they spent most of their time outside. When she was eight, Dolly first saw a toilet when visiting her aunt’s house. She was initially scared to use it since she thought it would suck her down!

During the winter, the family made their soap and bathed once a week, and during high school, she had to wash her bed every day because her brothers left it dirty at night.

Dolly Parton, who grew up in poverty and had a rough childhood, has always remembered the lessons she learned from her family.

She brings up these recollections when discussing her music and other elements of her life. “My love for my family will never end,” she adds, adding that it “is always there and directs me in whatever I do.”

Her fortune is reported to be approximately $375 million, but she continues to donate to charity. Parton founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988, initially granting scholarships to students at the high school she attended.

However, it has expanded to include many more schools and deserving instructors. This foundation is just one example of Parton’s generosity; it demonstrates how deeply she cares about helping others less lucky than herself.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was a remarkable initiative created by the artist in 1995 as an homage to her late father. It began in Tennessee but quickly spread around the country, delivering over 1.3 million books to over two million children each month.


The effort reached an extraordinary milestone in 2018 when the 100 millionth book was distributed, something Parton confessed she could never have thought would happen.

She added that it all felt like destiny and that she had planned for it to be a unique project dedicated to her father’s home county and the surrounding areas.

Parton’s kindness shows up when things go wrong, like when she set up the My People Fund after the devastating Great Smoky Mountains wildfires in 2016. More than $9 million was raised to help 900 families affected by the disaster.

Parton also gave a lot of money to Vanderbilt University Medical Center after her niece got treatment there for leukemia.

Dolly Parton has been incredibly generous throughout her life and business. She has donated to several causes, including the American Red Cross, HIV/AIDS charities, and animal rights organizations.

Parton also became a prominent champion for Covid vaccines in 2020, donating $1 million to help create the Moderna vaccine.

Parton’s giving comes effortlessly, and she is deeply committed to it. She once stated in an interview that she is “addicted to the sensation of giving” and enjoys “knowing that I’m making a difference in the lives of others.”

Dolly Parton’s caring attitude and upbringing have significantly influenced her philanthropy – her generosity has been essential in making charitable contributions to better the communities around her.

Because of her kind donations, many people and groups have been able to make significant contributions to important causes, which we are grateful for.

Dolly Parton’s compassion, kindness, and help for people who are less lucky than us will inspire others.

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