Adoption can be a profoundly rewarding experience, a sentiment Mariska Hargitay and her husband, Peter Hermann, wholeheartedly share. Hargitay, renowned for her iconic role in Law & Order: SVU, met Hermann on the set of the show in 2002, where he played lawyer Trevor Langan. The couple tied the knot in 2004, welcomed their first child, August, in 2006 when Hargitay was 42, and later adopted two more children, Amaya and Andrew, within a single year. However, their journey to becoming a family of five wasn’t without its heartaches, including a particularly devastating failed adoption.
Hargitay always knew she wanted to adopt. However, the path was fraught with challenges for her and Hermann, including an instance where they had to return a child to the birth mother after she changed her mind. This emotional ordeal was deeply painful for the couple.
In a 2012 interview with Good Housekeeping, Hargitay opened up about their adoption journey before finding Amaya and Andrew in 2011. She explained that adoption “was always part of the plan.” A few years after August’s birth, the couple found an adoption lawyer and began the rigorous process, which included a home visit. Unfortunately, they faced multiple setbacks and disappointments before a promising opportunity arose with a nearby birth mother.
“There were several cases that didn’t work out,” Hargitay revealed. “A lot of different kinds of complications. Then, after disappointments, came the big hope — which ended up being dashed.”
They met a woman expecting a girl, and Hargitay felt a strong connection with her. After spending time together, it seemed like they were about to welcome a new addition to their family. However, just days after the baby was born, the birth mother changed her mind. The couple, who had already named the baby, were devastated by this turn of events. “The long and short of it: The birth mother changed her mind,” Hargitay recalled. “It was nothing short of devastating.” Despite the heartbreak, Hargitay viewed the experience as a profound blessing, feeling honored to be part of the process.
Finally, in 2011, Hargitay and Hermann’s perseverance paid off. They were introduced to another birth mother through their adoption lawyer, and everything fell into place. Hargitay was even present at Amaya’s birth, assisting throughout the process. Initially planning to wait a year and a half before adopting again, fate had other plans. The couple received a call about a prematurely born baby boy ready to leave the hospital. With their home study already completed, they quickly embraced this new opportunity, naming him Andrew after a dear friend who had recently passed away. Within the same year, they welcomed both Amaya and Andrew, completing their family.
Reflecting on this swift decision, Hargitay said, “I don’t really know what to say about it, other than it was a no-brainer. Peter and I both thought, ‘Let’s do it! I’m in!’ It was like… a miracle. And I don’t use that word lightly. I’ve never made a bigger decision so quickly. The whole thing happened in a total of two days.”
Hargitay’s understanding of family extends from her own experiences. She lost her mother, Jayne Mansfield, in a tragic car accident in 1967. Speaking on The View in 2018, Hargitay shared how this loss influenced her perspective on family and adoption. “I grew up with my two brothers, and three was sort of a magic number for us. I had a fantastic stepmother and learned very young that families are made so many different ways. From the time I was little, I knew that I wanted to adopt. Because I felt like I might know what to do.”
Despite the initial heartache, Hargitay and Hermann now enjoy a content and fulfilling life with their three children, August, Amaya, and Andrew. Their journey to becoming a family is a testament to the resilience and joy that can come from adoption.
