mariska hargitay was honored at the 2026 Women of the Year Leadership Forum for her three decades of advocacy and her new documentary work. She took the stage in West Hollywood for an emotional keynote conversation with Lucy Feldman, Editorial Director at TIME. The recognition highlighted her advocacy, her HBO feature My Mom Jayne, and her foundation’s legislative victories.
Mariska Hargitay’s keynote and film reveal
The event brought the actress and advocate to the podium where she spoke about destigmatizing sexual assault and domestic violence and about her directorial debut, My Mom Jayne, which premiered on HBO. The documentary reframes Jayne Mansfield’s legacy and disclosed a major family revelation: Hargitay’s biological father was not the man who raised her, Mickey Hargitay. Her onstage vulnerability underscored nearly 30 years of public service and the emotional stakes of turning private history into public storytelling.
Immediate reactions and named voices
During the forum Hargitay discussed the impact of her work with Lucy Feldman, Editorial Director at TIME. Fellow honorees and attendees were vocal in praise; Teyana Taylor, Fellow 2026 Women of the Year Honoree, said, “I’m just so honored that I get to just be here with you all tonight, and honestly, every other amazing woman that is sitting here as well. ” Other honorees named at the forum included Lucy Liu, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chloé Zhao, and Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Sponsors listed for the West Hollywood EDITION event included Target, Booking. com, Toyota, Deloitte, and Maker’s Mark.
Quick context and what comes next
Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation, founded in 2004, has focused on survivor advocacy, addressing untested rape kit backlogs and pushing legal reforms. In 2025 the foundation’s work helped secure the Take It Down Act, a federal law addressing nonconsensual intimate images and AI-generated deepfakes. In television, Hargitay continues directing and executive producing on Law & Order: SVU and has promoted storylines that educate the public about sexual assault nurse examiners and the care they provide survivors during traumatic medical exams.
Looking ahead, mariska hargitay’s platform is expected to remain centered on survivor visibility and criminal justice reform through her foundation and creative projects. Audiences and advocates will watch for further screenings of My Mom Jayne, additional advocacy campaigns from the Joyful Heart Foundation, and continued storytelling on Law & Order: SVU that foregrounds survivor care and reform efforts.
