Mariska Hargitay’s Emmys look called ‘the best ever’ as she wows in show-stopping gown
Mariska Hargitay had already made history before she even stepped onto the Emmys stage. But when the Law & Order: SVU star arrived on the red carpet, it was her jaw-dropping look that had everyone turning their heads.
The actress hosted the 78th annual Emmy Awards on September 14, becoming the first woman in 15 years to take on the role, following Jane Lynch’s hosting gig in 2011.
And what a night to make history.
Mariska Hargitay arrived at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles wearing a breathtaking fire-red Monse gown covered in shimmering sequins. The dramatic dress featured a sweetheart neckline, a one-shoulder design and a feathered, asymmetrical hem that flowed into a longer train.
She completed the look with towering red heels, understated jewelry and glamorous makeup — and fans immediately had plenty to say.
One viewer summed up the reaction simply:
“This might be her best look ever!! Literally so beautiful, the whole family!🥺🤩.”
But there was much more to the dress than simply making a statement on the red carpet.
A tribute hidden in plain sight
Hargitay’s striking red gown was a nod to her late mother, legendary actress Jayne Mansfield. The dress was inspired by the red look Mansfield wore in the 1956 film The Girl Can’t Help It, giving Hargitay’s glamorous appearance an especially personal meaning.
And Mariska wasn’t the only member of the family dressed in red.
Her 15-year-old daughter, Amaya, joined her on the red carpet in a shorter version of the sparkling gown, creating a striking mother-daughter moment.
The two were joined by Hargitay’s husband, actor Peter Hermann, and their sons August and Andrew, who looked dapper in classic tuxedos and black bow ties.
The family appearance quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about moments.
Mariska’s biggest night yet
The red-carpet appearance came during an already extraordinary evening for Hargitay. She had announced in July that she would host the ceremony, but she later admitted that her first reaction to the unexpected phone call was anything but glamorous.
Hargitay recalled that she was backstage performing in Every Brilliant Thing when NBCUniversal Television Studios chairman Pearlena Igbokwe called her.
“I was backstage, doing my play [Every Brilliant Thing], and I got a call. It was Pearlena [Igbokwe], who’s head of the network, and I thought, ‘Oh, I should answer this. Am I getting fired?’” Hargitay joked.
She initially thought the offer might actually be a joke.
“She asked me about it, and at first, I thought she was kidding. I actually thought she was kidding.”
But the hosting job wasn’t the only reason the night was so meaningful.
Hargitay was also nominated at the ceremony, making the experience even more personal.
Speaking to People, she described the combination of hosting and receiving nominations as “more extraordinary than I have the words to express.”
“I’ve always been so grateful to have dedicated my life to telling stories, and I feel more energized about the power of storytelling than ever before,” she added.
Fans couldn’t stop talking about the family
While many viewers were simply delighted to see the entire family together, the matching mother-daughter dresses quickly divided opinion online.
Some fans absolutely loved the coordinated looks.
One commenter wrote:
“Love the matching dresses! Beautiful!”
Another enthusiastically declared:
“Those dresses are top notch [sic]!!! I would love one!!!”
But others questioned whether Amaya’s dress was too revealing for her age.
One commenter wrote:
“Dress is a little too revealing for her daughter.”
Another said:
“Mom’s covered up more then [sic] her daughter. Not a good fit for the daughter.”
And another viewer added:
“Beautiful family! But that dress is a bit inappropriate for her daughter…too much showing AND she doesn’t look comfortable.”
Someone else simply wrote:
“Seriously mom [sic]? She’s 16!”
while another added:
“She’s too young to wear that kind of dress 😤.”
Still, plenty of fans focused on something else entirely — just how much the children resemble their famous parents.
Over on Reddit, one fan wrote:
“She looks incredible. Crazy how you can look 40 forever when you’re super rich. Her oldest son looks so much like her.”
“What a beautiful family! That son took her whole face.”
And another simply gushed:
“This might be her best look ever!! Literally so beautiful, the whole family!🥺🤩.”
A fourth commenter even pointed out the resemblance across all three children:
“Oldest son stole her entire face. Youngest son looks like dad and even daughter has Mariska head shape. Lol 😆 Lovely family [sic]!”
So, as you can see, Mariska Hargitay gave everyone plenty to talk about before she had even stepped onto the stage.
And on a night when she was already making Emmy history, her unforgettable red-carpet appearance ensured she would be one of the faces fans remembered long after the final award was handed out.