Mariska Hargitay Motivated by Motherhood

Courtesy SELF

Although it has been only two years since Mariska Hargitay welcomed her first child, son August Miklos Friedrich, the actress cannot fathom life without a child. A "perfect night" for Mariska includes "putting August to bed and having a bath," as she shares in a new interview with SELF that her baby boy — who is "all light" — brings her a calming sense of happiness. "You look at babies and they’re full of joy. It’s a pure state, a place that can inform every part of your life. What is life without it," wonders the star of Law & Order: SVU, who considers her and her husband Peter Hermann "homebodies" after having a baby.

After the birth of August, Mariska realized that her motives to lose the baby weight were not driven by the desire to be thin, but rather the necessity to keep up with her active son. "It’s not about being fat or thin. I’m a full-figured woman. It’s about how am I going to keep up my energy," explains Mariska. As the 44-year-old shares her secret of youth as staying away from "sugar, yeast, and wine," which she calls her "mack truck," Mariska also realizes that she is not prepared to "give up wine for life." The key? "Everything in moderation," says the actress who goes on to reveal that her healthy eating habits allow her to wake up with no "undereye bags" and perfect skin. "If I’m supporting myself, I’m supporting my kid. If I’m happy and healthy, I can be a better wife and mom, I can do a better job," says Mariska. In fact, the motivated mom also credits August for her return to her work-out routine — which includes 30 minute jogs and weekend sessions with her trainer — while her show is on hiatus.

"I want to be a fun mom. Not a gasping-for-air mom."

The built-up endurance may come in handy, not only for August, but for future children as well — Mariska shares that the couple are "trying" to add to their family. "It’s hard. I think a lot of it is up to God and nature and we’ll see what happens," notes Mariska, who also reveals that she would "definitely … love to" adopt one day.

Source: SELF

Comments

Ahh, I love her. She’s so gorgeous!

- Jane on October 27th, 2008

I find it a little sad that Mariska Hargitay describes herself as a full-figured woman. She’s absolutely beautiful but she looks to only be a size 6 or so – that’s not exactly ‘full-figured’ outside of Hollywood.

- k on October 27th, 2008

When I read statements of Mariska impresses me their authenticity, simplicity and charisma. It is for these reasons that I feel admiration for this actress is always increasing. It’s good to see that there are no losses celebrides and snobbery. Mariska is simple, humble and afável.Apesar of rich and famous maintains a posture of common person, showing through problems that affect us all. Besides Mariska which is a humanitarian angel who radiates kindness and tenderness. And most of all is still pretty and is talentosa.Ela blessed by God. Mariska Hargitay! for all.

- Antonia on October 27th, 2008

she rocks! and people aren’t understanding what she means by “full-figured”. she has her mother’s body, and yes, her mother was full-figured, AKA CURVY. full-figured does not mean obese!

- catherine on October 27th, 2008

We all know Mariska doesn’t consider herself fat. she is curvy, that’s what she meant by full-figured, and it’s kinda pissing me off that people are twisting her words to make her seem body conscious.

Also, i am so happy to hear that she is trying to add on to her family. it would be so great for her to have another child(i think she would be a great mother to a girl) (:
and her adopting would be great too.

I just received my signed autograph from her today! i am so excited! (just thought i’d throw that in there) lol

- Shannen on October 27th, 2008

I really hope her attempts at a second child come through. She deserves it and August is cute as hell! I’d love for her to have a little girl.

- Emily on October 27th, 2008

There’s a lot of controversy on other sites concerning Mariska’s description of herself as a “full figured woman,” and I wondered whether it would reach here. Before anyone gets up in arms like they did elsewhere, Mariska is exactly right. She is full-figured. She has breasts, hips, and an overall hourglass shape, much like her mother Jayne. In no way does her correct use of the phrase imply that she or anyone else believes her to be heavy. Good for Mariska for staying fit and healthy. I love her on SVU.

- Lauren on October 27th, 2008

Wow. Full-figured. I guess that makes size 12 me an enormous fat pig.

- robin m. on October 27th, 2008

Robin where are you getting that from? Talk about reading into something!

- Brandi on October 27th, 2008

Well, I guess for Hollywood she is full-figured, but compared to the average woman I don’t consider her full-figured. And I do mean that in the sense that she has curves because I really don’t see them. Perhaps I’m just biased in what I think is full-figured because people to me who are full-figured look like JLo or Kim Kardashian.

- Amber on October 27th, 2008

Mariska beautiful, very beautiful. I love this woman.
She has the most beautiful smile in the world. And some beautiful brown eyes

- Ana Maria on October 27th, 2008

Does anyone else that in that picture her head was photoshopped onto another woman’s body? It looks very strange.

- Katie Murray on October 27th, 2008

She is absolutely gorgeous. I hope she gets that second baby no matter which way it comes to her.

- Heather on October 27th, 2008

Ok, I would just like to comment that I have not even read the post.

But…that picture is majorly photo shopped, which is a shame because the real Mariska is far more beautiful that cut, cropped and airbrushed version of her. perhaps that’s why everyone is having a hard time accepting that she considers herself as full figured…I am so tired of hollywood trying to promote healthy weights and not stick bodies, and then they go and literally cut 10,15, 20 lbs off of everyone for a magazine cover.

- Tracie on October 27th, 2008

Brandi, I was just being a little sarcastic. Sure, she may be curvy by Hollywood standards, but it just seems a little insulting for her to refer to herself as full-figured when she is anything but! I don’t think it sends a good message, either. Just my opinion!

- robin m. on October 27th, 2008

Robin, she is DEFINATELY full-figured in the most flattering terms. She’s not stick thin, or overweight. She’s healthy, curvy, and a really good influence to girls who think you have to be stick thin to be beautiful, she shows that you don’t have to fit “hollywood standard” size zero, A-cup A-listers.

- Kait on October 27th, 2008

And anyone who finds it insulting that someone else calls themselves curvy when it’s meant in a positive manner… seems to have body-image problems in general, whether its about them or others.

- Kait on October 27th, 2008

Shes 44?!?! I hope i look that good when im 44!! Correct me if im wrong but doesnt it get harder to conceive after 40?

- Kelly on October 27th, 2008

I think she looks good normally, but on this cover she just looks photoshopped and airbrushed…
Also, she is not full figured in what I consider that word to mean.

- Sarita on October 27th, 2008

I don’t see anything wrong or insulting about Mariska calling herself full-figured. She is a beautiful woman with an curvy figure. You can be full-figured and not be overweight. She is very happy with her body.

August is the cutest celebrity baby to me! I would love to see another biological child from them, but I also appreciate her considering adoption.

- Jessica on October 27th, 2008

She is gorgeous inside and out. Why in the world did the magazine photoshop her so much.
It would be so exciting if they had another baby. A little girl that looks like her….she would be a little heart breaker

- KayR on October 27th, 2008

yep, as usual, someone was quite heavy-handed with the photoshop. she’s a beautiful woman and it is too bad the mags won’t let women just be women, not these fabricated, cropped and reconfigured cover shots.

(where is her neck?)

- sinclair on October 27th, 2008

Holy Airbrush Batman!

- Rye on October 27th, 2008

I love Mariska, full figured or not. I’d kill to have her figure. I too think she’s referring to herself as full figured, compared to the rest of the Hollywood actresses who have the figure of a stick insect (which I find gross…gimme a women with curves anyday). Anyone know where her top is from? It’s gorgeous!

- Vanessa on October 28th, 2008

She looks ‘absolutely gorgeous’ because she’s been airbrushed to the max. She probably is pretty in real life but this plastic beauty everyone is admiring comes from some pretty good computer technology. It’s sad that magazines have to do this but they’re only reflecting OUR ideals and whatever gets people like us to buy them.
I do think she is full figured. ‘Full figured’ doesn’t have to equal overweight. I hate the knee jerk reaction that the media have against thin models – whilst still putting thin women on the cover to get readers, precede to berate naturally thin women in the actual magazine and endorse overweight so called ‘full figured’ women. Also, guess what, thin women have feelings too!

- LanLan on October 28th, 2008

wow i wondered why there were so many comments on this post. full-figured does have different definitions depending on where you are from but I don’t see any issue with mariska calling herself that. you can’t see her curves in this picture but she does have them.

- MB on October 28th, 2008

I think Mariska would not say who was or is fat. This whole world sees it not only é.Num scenario where you see women without curves or almost anorexic, Mariska, who has breasts and butt, thank goodness, should feel different. Different but no less beautiful. She is beautiful and charming to all its simplicity.

- Daiane on October 28th, 2008

She’s so pretty and her son is gorgeous. I hope she gets pregnant soon, she will be 45 in january so time is clicking. I would love to see august get a sibling

- brooke on October 30th, 2008