Mariska Hargitay Shares a Rare Childhood Photo with Her Late Mom

“Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay pleased her fans with a throwback photo of herself as a child together with her mother.

The 55-year-old actress shared the rare childhood photo with her more than one million followers on Instagram.

Hargitay was barely four years old when her mother died in 1967.

Mariska Hargitay at 92nd Street Y on February 12, 2019 in New York City | Photo: Getty Images

“Getting ready for summer in [an] itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny yellow polka bikini," she captioned the photo, which racked up nearly 140,000 likes in just four days.

Hargitay’s mother was the famous actress Jayne Mansfield, a major Hollywood sex symbol during the 1950s and early 1960s.

Mansfield, who died in a tragic road crash at the age of 34, was known for her well-publicized personal life. She was at some point romantically linked to US President John F. Kennedy.

STRUGGLE WITH TRAUMA

Hargitay was barely four years old when her mother died in 1967. She struggled for years to overcome the trauma from the car crash.

Mansfield, her companion Sam Brody, their driver Ronnie Harrison and three of her children - Miklós, Zoltán and Mariska - were riding in a 1966 Buick on their way to New Orleans, when they crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer.

Mansfield, Brody, and Harrison were killed instantly, but Mariska and her brothers, asleep in the back seat were unscathed.

Hargitay’s father was bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay.

RISE TO FAME

Hargitay made her film debut in the 1985 horror comedy film “Ghoulies.” A year later, she made her television debut with the adventure drama series “Downtown.”

She created the Joyful Heart Foundation, providing support to victims of sexual abuse. She was motivated to create the foundation while playing Olivia Benson in “Law & Order.”

For her portrayal of Olivia Benson, Hargitay been the recipient of numerous awards and nominations, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

Benson, a survivor of sexual assault, investigates cases of sexual assault in some of the show’s episodes.

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