You know her as the fierce, no-nonsense Captain Olivia Benson. But when the cameras stop rolling on the set of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Mariska Hargitay isn't chasing down perpetrators. She’s usually chasing down her three kids. If you’ve ever looked into the life of a Mariska Hargitay son, you’ve probably realized pretty quickly that her path to motherhood was anything but a scripted TV drama. It was messy. It was heartbreaking. Honestly, it was a bit of a miracle.
Mariska and her husband, Peter Hermann, have three children: August, Amaya, and Andrew. While the world sees the red carpet glamour, the actual story of how these boys joined the family is filled with the kind of vulnerability you don't usually see from Hollywood A-listers.
August Miklos Friedrich Hermann: The First-Born
August is the couple's only biological child. He was born on June 28, 2006, when Mariska was 42. That’s a detail people often gloss over, but it’s a big deal. Starting a family later in life comes with its own set of anxieties. Mariska has been open about the fact that her pregnancy wasn't exactly a walk in the park. She ended up with gestational diabetes, which eventually led to an emergency C-section.
August is basically the spitting image of his father. They have the same strong jawline and that kind of effortless, tall stature. But he’s also got his mother’s heart. Interestingly, August was actually the one who pushed for the family to grow. Mariska told Good Housekeeping years ago that August basically manifested his siblings. He told her he wanted a sister, and then Amaya arrived. Then he decided he wanted a brother, and Andrew showed up.
One thing most people don't know? August has a stutter. In 2023, Mariska and Peter were inducted into the Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) Hall of Fame. It was a big moment. Mariska talked about how beautiful it was to see her son find a community that understood him. She mentioned how heartbreaking it is that people who stutter often try to hide or stay silent because they’re afraid of how the world will treat them. Seeing her support him so publicly really humanizes the whole "celebrity mom" image.
The Journey to Andrew: Adoption Isn't for the Faint of Heart
When people talk about a Mariska Hargitay son, they are often referring to Andrew Nicolas Hargitay Hermann. His story is incredible because it happened so fast it would make your head spin. After adopting their daughter, Amaya, in April 2011, Mariska and Peter weren't necessarily looking to jump back into the process immediately. They figured they’d wait a year or two.
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Life had other plans.
Just six months after Amaya came home, their adoption lawyer called. There was a baby boy. He was born prematurely. Mariska says it was a "no-brainer." They said yes instantly. They named him Andrew after a close friend who had recently passed away.
But here’s the thing: adoption in the Hargitay-Hermann household wasn't always a smooth success story. Before Amaya and Andrew, there was a devastating "failed" adoption. They had actually brought a baby girl home. They parented her for two days. They had named her. Then, the birth mother changed her mind.
Can you imagine that?
Mariska described it as "nothing short of devastating." Most people would have curled into a ball and given up. But she viewed it with a level of grace that’s honestly hard to wrap your head around. She said that while it was painful for them, it was "deeply right" for the birth mother. That’s the kind of perspective that only comes from someone who has done the internal work.
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Growing Up in the Spotlight (Sorta)
You won’t find the Hermann kids on every tabloid cover. Mariska is notoriously protective. However, as they’ve gotten older, we’ve seen them more. In 2025, the whole family made a rare, high-profile appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. They were there for the premiere of Mariska’s documentary, My Mom Jayne, which explores the life of her mother, the legendary Jayne Mansfield.
Seeing the boys on the red carpet was a trip. August, now 19, towers over his mom. Andrew, at 14, is starting to find his own style. They look like normal, well-adjusted kids, which is a feat in itself when your mom has been the face of a hit TV show for over a quarter of a century.
Why Their Bond is Different
There is a specific kind of closeness between Amaya and Andrew because they are so close in age. Since they were adopted within six months of each other, they basically grew up as twins. Mariska has shared stories of them lying in the crib together when they were babies, Amaya with her arm protectively around her little brother.
Parenting Lessons from the Set
Mariska’s parenting style is surprisingly grounded. She once shared a piece of advice she got: never threaten a punishment you aren't willing to carry out. If you say you’re going home, you better be ready to start the car. She also focuses heavily on "tell me more." Instead of shutting kids down when they’re upset, she asks them to explain their feelings. It sounds simple, but it’s basically the "Benson" interrogation technique turned into a therapy tool for toddlers.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a misconception that because Mariska is wealthy and famous, her family life is "easy." But the health struggles Andrew faced as a premature infant required a private nurse for a long time. The emotional toll of the adoption process was massive. The reality of raising a child with a stutter requires patience and advocacy.
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She isn't just a "celebrity mom." She’s a mom who happens to be a celebrity.
The way she has integrated her kids into her work life is also pretty cool. August spent his first year of life on the SVU set. Selena Gomez actually interviewed Mariska recently and asked her how she balances it all. Mariska’s answer? You don't always balance it perfectly. You miss things. But you show your kids that you love what you do, and you bring them along for the ride whenever you can.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Family
If you’re looking at Mariska’s life and wondering how to bring some of that "Benson energy" into your own home, here are a few things to consider:
- Normalize the Struggle: Whether it's a stutter, health issues, or the complexities of adoption, don't hide the "messy" parts of family life. It’s where the real bonding happens.
- The Power of "Tell Me More": Next time your kid is acting out or feeling frustrated, use those three words. It shifts the dynamic from confrontation to understanding.
- Adoption is a Path, Not a Backup: Mariska always knew she wanted to adopt. It wasn't a "plan B." Treating adoption with that level of intention makes a huge difference in how the family dynamic forms.
- Consistency is Key: Don't make empty threats. If you set a boundary, hold it. It builds trust, even if the kids complain in the moment.
The story of every Mariska Hargitay son is ultimately a story about resilience. It’s about a woman who lost her own mother at age three and spent her adult life consciously building the big, loud, loving family she always dreamed of. It wasn't a straight line, but as she often says, it was "worth the fight."
If you want to stay updated on how the family is doing, the best way is to follow Mariska's documentary work. Her latest project, My Mom Jayne, is currently streaming and offers the most intimate look yet at how her past has shaped her kids' future.