Mariska Hargitay honors late 'hero' Gloria Steinem during double Emmy win for 'My Mom Jayne'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: It was a big night for Mariska Hargitay on Saturday, September 5, as she received two Emmy awards at the 78th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
The actress, 62, was honored for 'My Mom Jayne' as her documentary received the award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special as well as the Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program.
Mariska Hargitay honors Gloria Steinem during Emmy acceptance speech
As Hargita accepted the honor, she also shared a heartfelt tribute for Gloria Steinem, who died on September 2. Steinem, a journalist and social activist, was 92 at the time of death.
The 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' star told the attendees, “My hero and friend Gloria Steinem recently said, ‘Please tell your own story.’ The most important thing we can do for each other is to know each other through stories. I got to know my mother through telling the story. It’s a gift that’s indescribable.”
Mariska Hargitay celebrates double Emmy win for 'My Mom Jayne'
About her double win, Hargitay stated, “I’m utterly overwhelmed. I just wanted to share with you that it took me a while when I decided to make this film during the pandemic. It took me a while to realize that this was my story to tell. I could direct it.”
Hargitay once again emphasized “telling your own story” as she added, “I just want that invitation to go out, especially to women. I’m so excited to explore and discover and innovate new ways of telling stories from half of the earth’s population because we don’t hear from you enough. I can’t wait to get to know you."
Mariska Hargitay embraces new opportunities after Emmy wins
The philanthropist also spoke with reporters backstage after her wins.
“It feels extraordinarily new and it’s deeply meaningful for me to have gone into a completely different arena, and to be recognized like this is really beyond my wildest dreams,” she noted.
Hargitay went on to reveal her new motto of saying “yes.”
“Dreaming is actually part of planning. I’m at a place in my life where I just say yes, I said yes to Broadway, and I said yes to hosting the Emmys. When they called me, they thought it was a joke. It’s a year of firsts and a year of saying yes. Not limiting myself or not being governed by fear,” she explained.
“Like, what would I do if I wasn’t afraid? What if it all works out? I’m in that place right now of going, ‘I’ll figure it out.’ I’m really happy right now,” Hargitay added.
