It wasn't until Hargitay was 22 years old that she truly felt the impact of her mother's death. "I'd wake up crying," she told People. "I went through months of severe depression. I knew the pain had to be exorcised."
While she was able to get through her depression with the help of her family, Hargitay has pointed out that she has never truly gotten over the loss. "In some ways, being the daughter of a Hollywood icon has been a burden. I used to hate constant references to my mom because I wanted to be known for myself. Losing my mother at such a young age is the scar of my soul," she told Closer Weekly.
One thing that has made Hargitay feel more of a connection to her mother is becoming a mom herself. She and husband Peter Hermann share three children, sons August and Andrew and daughter Amaya (via Country Living). "Being a wife and mother is my life, and that gives me the most joy. I understand [my mother] in a new way that gives me peace. Now I understand the love she had in her, and it makes me feel closer to her," Hargitay explained.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEpaCsrF6YvK57lHJwb29jZMGpsYyrnJqkXaeyor%2FOp2SmmaKewKytjKGYq5%2BZqa66edKunZ%2BdopqxbrLRqKRmnJWlv6a%2F0qKmp2c%3D