'I’m utterly overwhelmed': Mariska Hargitay picks up two Primetime Emmy Awards

Mariska Hargitay paid tribute to the late Gloria Steinem as she picked up two Primetime Emmy Awards on Saturday (05.09.26) night.

The Law and Order: Special Victims Unit actress was "utterly overwhelmed" to accept the Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program prizes for My Mom Jayne, her HBO film about her late mother Jayne Mansfield, and she gave a nod to the feminist icon, who died earlier this week at the age of 92.

Speaking on stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles during night one of the 78th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards - which were previously known as the Creative Arts Emmys - Mariska said as she accepted her first trophy: “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.”

And when she accepted the prize for directing, she referenced Steinem's advice again as she said: “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...

“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 realise that this was my story to tell. I could direct it.”