Mariska Hargitay and husband Peter Hermann always dreamed of a big family. After welcoming their son August in 2006, they adopted daughter Amaya and son Andrew in 2011. “Adoption was always part of the plan,” Hargitay said, though the process was often “heartbreaking.”

The couple met on Law & Order: SVU, and their bond was immediate. Hargitay recalled, “I was just overwhelmed — I think I cried.” Co-star Christopher Meloni sensed early on, “I knew they were going to be married.” They wed in 2004, and Hargitay later said, “We knew we had found the right partner.”

Balancing work and parenting wasn’t easy. “When I’m at work, I’m at work. When I’m home, I’m home,” she said. Still, she credits Peter’s support and her team for making it manageable.

Motherhood remains her greatest joy. “My kids are my teachers,” she shared, calling her family “perfect for me.” Reflecting on her journey, she added, “Life doesn’t get better than this.” Through love, perseverance, and gratitude, Hargitay built a family — and a legacy — on and off the screen.