The slow actress Jayne Mansfield became a regular at the Cannes Film Festival in the 1950s and ‘60s, sometimes photographed on the Croisette with h
The slow actress Jayne Mansfield became a regular at the Cannes Film Festival in the 1950s and ‘60s, sometimes photographed on the Croisette with her husband, Mickey Hargitay, and on at least one occasion accompanied by her pet pooch.
Decades after her death in a tragic car crash, Mansfield again enjoys a place of honor at the festival, thanks to her daughter, Mariska Hargitay. The star known for her role as Det. Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU, makes her directorial debut with the documentary My Mom Jayne, which just premiered in the Cannes Classics section of the festival.
A photograph of Jayne Mansfield displayed on the Croisette during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Matthew Carey
“Obviously I’ve grown up with images of my mother. There were certainly a lot taken,” Hargitay said as she stopped by Deadline’s Cannes Studio. “But the photos of her in Cannes in particular were always so meaningful to me because of how free and happy and in love she was with my father. And so those photos were always kind of seared in this emotional place in my heart. To be here, to bring her back here and to tell her story was quite beautiful.”
Hargitay was only three when her mother was killed in the accident in Louisiana. Mariska and her older brothers Zoltan and Mickey Jr. were in the backseat at the time and all three were injured. As the film reveals, paramedics left the scene without realizing Mariska was trapped inside the vehicle; they only returned after Zoltan asked them about the whereabouts of his sister.
Jayne Mansfield in ‘Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?’ in 1957.
Everett Collection
The Hollywood studio system forced the shapely Mansfield into the role of a blond bombshell – dyeing her hair to aid achieve the desired effect. Underneath the glamour girl image lurked a woman of substance; Mansfield was a polyglot, classical pianist and violinist, and took the craft of acting seriously.
“Seeing all this artistry and seeing that she never was able to do the kinds of films or make the kind of art that she wanted to was so intriguing,” Hargitay noted. “I wanted to know that story and again, get to know the person. I just longed and ached to know the real person and what made her tick and what made her afraid and what was her pain and her joy and all of that.”
Jayne Mansfield and husband Mickey Hargitay with their children Zoltan, 5, Mikos, 7, Mariska, 2, and 14 year venerable Jayne Marie, Mansfield’s daughter by a previous marriage.
Getty
My Mom Jayne, which premieres June 27 on HBO and HBO Max, contains startling revelations about the identity of Hargitay’s biological father – details the actress-director has never shared before. We won’t spoil those here.
Later in the summer, Hargitay will return to work on the 27th season of SVU. As Deadline reported exclusively, she will be rejoined by her friend, actress Kelli Giddish, who is coming back to the show in the role of Det. Amanda Rollins.
“She is a formidable actress and an incredibly creative partner and has been such a joy and huge part of the fabric of SVU,” Hargitay told us. “I love her, and I love acting with her and co-creating with her, and it feels like home with her. So, I am ecstatic about her return.”
Watch the full conversation in the video above.
Title: My Mom Jayne
Festival: Cannes (Cannes Classics section)
Panelist: Mariska Hargitay (director)
Distributor: HBO
Running time: 1 hr 46 min.
The Deadline Studio at Cannes is sponsored by SCAD, Cast & Crew and Final Draft.
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