Mariska Hargitay Skipped Sleeping in to Cook with Family despite Working 15-Hour-Days — She Puts Family First

• Mariska Hargitay now has a "happy house" after growing up in a "frozen place."

• She has opened up about her daily life with her family.

• Hargitay has also spoken fondly about her kids and motherhood.

Award-winning TV star Mariska Hargitay works long hours on the set of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," but she ensures that she still cooks for her three kids and husband even if it means losing a bit of sleep.

Hargitay is best known for her famous role as Detective Olivia Benson on the NBC show. She has starred in the crime drama series since its inception in 1999 until presently.

Her long work history on the TV show means she is worth much more than she started. Media reports have previously suggested that Hargitay earned around $375,000 to $385,000 per episode in 2009.

By 2014, Forbes reported the California native raked in $450,000 per episode – making her one of the highest-paid actresses on television.

That amount gradually increased over the years. In 2018, the outlet reported that Hargitay was taking home $13 million for the hit show, meaning she now earns over $500,000 per episode.

Being the star she is today, Hargitay revealed that her parents shaped her into the woman she is. Sadly, her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield, passed away in a car crash when she was a toddler.

Her father, actor Mickey Hargitay raised her. When speaking on her childhood experience, the "SVU" alum said it was more like a "frozen place."

Hargitay is now a parent herself, and her history of sadness has been overcome by joy. She and her husband, actor Peter Hermann, share three children, August, whom they welcomed in 2006, Amaya, and Andrew, whom they adopted in 2011, months apart. She gushed about her family in 2021:

"[..] Together, we're just this whole happy, joyful, chaotic, crazy unit."

Hargitay said her household is full of laughter: "I like to laugh, like to make my kids laugh. And comedy has a real currency in our household."

The Emmy Award winner even nicknamed her family home in the Hamptons the "Happy House" and has prints of the words on towels, among other things. She loves entertaining, and her preferred mode of unwinding is spending time with her husband and kids.

In 2007, Hargitay opened up about her journey to motherhood in an interview with People and revealed when she discovered that she was expecting her first child, she was over the moon:

"Nobody wanted to be pregnant more than me. From the minute I found out, I was wearing full-on maternity pants. My stomach was totally flat, mind you, but I was just so excited."

However, Hargitay had to work 15-hour days in "SVU," and the number of weekly episodes increased, putting a lot of strain on her. As a resort, she turned to food for comfort:

"I was overwhelmed by my lack of energy. All I could do to survive was to eat."

Hargitay Leads a Private Life Full of Sacrifices

In addition, being a mother brought Hargitay closer to her late mom: "I understand her in a new way that gives me peace," she explained in August 2010, adding:

"Being a mom has been healing. Now I understand the love she had in her, and it makes me feel close to her."

Hargitay and Hermann raise their brood in a tight-knit home where they skip sleeping in on the weekends and instead wake up to cook a full-on breakfast.

When asked what kinds of food she always keeps in her fridge, she said: "I keep carrots and celery already prepared so that I can grab them at any time."

Speaking of food, in November 2012, Hargitay revealed how she stays in shape by being constantly active. "I'm always running around – and I'm the mother of a two-and-a-half-year-old! Swimming is my favorite sport. I live for swimming," she said.

When asked how she spent time with her spouse, the "ER" star shared that the couple enjoyed putting their then toddler son to bed and being home together. Moreover, she divulged they liked going out to see a movie and watching their pals in plays. "Our evenings at home are kind of our dates," the Golden Globe Award winner added.

When the Hollywood star is not giving Hermann her undivided attention, she makes time for her daughter, Amaya, whom she adopted in April 2011.

In July 2012, the Hollywood star took along her child on set and was spotted speaking to a friend she saw while walking home from work in New York City. Hargitay was pictured holding her little girl while carrying a blanket in case she wanted to swaddle her.

Hargitay once admitted maintaining a work-life balance was difficult. However, she expressed that it was still a learning curve as she tried to be "present" in whatever situation she found herself in. "When I'm at work, I'm at work. When I'm with my kids, I'm with my kids."

Hargitay loves dining with her loved ones, and her family enjoys exploring other cultures. In April 2012, they reportedly had a lunch of Ethiopian chicken, served with rice, vegetables, and bread.

Hargitay on Her Kids & Parenthood

Hargitay once shared what type of individuals her children are, revealing they each have different personalities. Her youngest son Andrew was born premature, and she and Hermann decided to try out a "Big Muscles class" for him.

The exercise has done wonders for him since, with "balance and development," the proud mom explained. When it comes to the couple's only daughter Amaya, she is a music fanatic, said Hargitay, adding her firstborn, August, took after her by being "a swimmer."

The mom of three expressed in June 2018 that her kids are her happiness. Moreover, the People's Choice Award winner credited her role as Benson on "SVU" for prepping her for parenthood.

"As a cop, you are in charge of any emergency, and you need to stay calm, take control. It's the same thing with being a parent," said Hargitay.