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In a rare and heartwarming photo, Mariska Hargitay was seen hugging her 12-year-old daughter, Amaya Hermann.
Years before Amaya was adopted, Mariska had a tough experience when a mother who planned to give her child to the actress changed her mind. But then, an African-American mother gave Mariska custody of her child, and Mariska became a loving mom to the adorable little girl. She now sees her multicultural family as a true blessing.
Mariska Hargitay, 59, is famous for her lead role in the hit TV series “Law & Order.” She’s also a devoted wife to fellow actor Peter Hermann, 55, and a cherished mother of three children: August, Andrew, and Amaya Josephine Hermann. Mariska usually keeps her personal life private, wanting her kids to stay out of the spotlight.
On July 1, a close friend of Mariska’s posted two photos on Instagram. The pictures showed them hanging out at the Chiltern Firehouse restaurant. In the first photo, Mariska and her friend were smiling and posing together. In the second, Mariska, her husband, one of her kids, and her daughter Amaya—who turned twelve this year—were all cuddled up together.
Mariska gave birth to her first child, August, when she was 42, an age considered high risk for pregnancy-related problems. After August was born, Mariska and her husband talked about having another child. They both wanted a big family, and their son also asked for a sibling.
When they decided to adopt, they started looking into adoption agencies. With the help of a wonderful, perceptive adoption attorney, they began their journey.
Their family grew again with the surprise arrival of baby Andrew.
The adoption process wasn’t easy. They faced many false starts and even a five-hour home visit. Mariska shared:
“A number of the cases were unsuccessful. Many distinct types of difficulties.”
But after many disappointments, a glimmer of hope appeared. They heard about a young woman expecting a baby girl, just what Mariska had always wanted.
Mariska, having faced several failed attempts to adopt, tried not to get her hopes up. But she was thrilled to meet the soon-to-be mother, described as brilliant, amazing, and intelligent.
In 2010, while Mariska was on the set of “Law & Order SVU,” the expectant mother called, now in labor, and told her to come to the hospital right away.
The parents spent two days bonding with the newborn, even naming her. But then, Mariska recalled:
“The biological mother had second thoughts. It was just catastrophic.”
Sadly, they had to return the baby to her biological mother. However, their luck changed when their social worker and attorney brought them wonderful news. They had found another expectant mother willing to place her child for adoption. The team believed this time would work out.
The biological mother and the couple had a great phone conversation before meeting in person. Mariska was amazed by the woman’s qualities.
Even though they were excited, they were also anxious that things might not work out again. But the biological mother reassured Mariska, saying she was sure this was right. Mariska said:
“We wanted our family to be a realistic microcosm of the world, so we were excited to have a multiracial family because that’s what the world is.”
In April 2011, baby Amaya joined the Hargitay-Hermann family. Mariska shared her joy, saying:
“I’m incredibly joyful. From the moment of her birth, she exhibited an unexpected level of awareness and affection. August is ecstatic; he refers to her as his kid and claims that he came up with the idea for the whole thing. He also frequently discusses his plans to safeguard her.”
In 2013, the family attended the fifth annual family fair held by the Children’s Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton. Soon after Amaya’s arrival, they got another surprise. Their lawyer informed them about another baby, a boy, they could adopt if they were interested. Mariska and her husband eagerly agreed, and baby Andrew joined their family.
Reflecting on their desire for a bigger family, Mariska said:
“It’s odd how I usually become so secretive about our children, but I believe that wanting a larger family was the simplest solution, and we are quite fortunate.”
Despite the challenges, Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann’s perseverance paid off. They feel incredibly lucky to have their beautiful multicultural family.