“My Mom Jayne” directed by & starring Maariska Hargitay / Z-View

My Mom Jayne (2025)

Director:  Mariska Hargitay

Tagline:  Reclaming her mother’s story, and her own.

The Plot…

Mariska Hargitay was three years old when he mother, Jayne Mansfield was killed in a tragic auto accident.  Mariska and her siblings were injured in the wreck.

Mariska grew up in a world where her mother was known everywhere because of her international celebrity.  Yet because Mariska was only three when her mother was killed,  she has no memories of her mom.  This documentary is an effort to remedy that.  Along the way Mariska will learn a secret buried for over six decades that will change everything.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jayne Mansfield is often thought of as a knockoff of Marilyn Monroe.  At first that was true.  Mansfield leaned into the beautiful dumb blonde role.  The truth is she could speak several languages and play multiple instruments.  She was far from dumb.  When she tried to change the public perception of her, it didn’t work.

Jayne Mansfield wanted fame and it led to poor choices in the men in her life.  The one exception Mickey Hargitay.

Mariska’s discovery changes her world.

The bars on the back of semi-trucks that prevent cars from driving under them are called “Mansfield-bars”.  Legislation was started due to Mansfield’s tragic death when he car went under a semi.  Although the accident took place in 1967, the safety bars weren’t made mandatory until years later.

My Mom Jayne (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars