After falling in love at first sight, Hargitay and Peter Hermann have been married for over two decades. Christopher Melani, who portrayed investigator Elliot Stabler on the program and was Hargitay’s co-star, explains how the idyllic love tale got started.
When Hargitay, who portrays the valiant Lieutenant Olivia Benson, first met Hermann, who had joined the program as a guest actor and was portraying defense lawyer Trevor Langan, she fell in love.
Meloni claims that she began acting like a schoolgirl, but he knew she had never acted that way as a result of anybody else because he had known her for so long.
She made an effort to hide her feelings for Hermann, but everyone watching her could see them. “Oh my Goodness, it’s like I’m back in high school, or even grade school,” adds Meloni.
Soon after, they began dating, and Hargitay says their first date was “too wonderful to be true.” Hargitay hesitated when he invited her to accompany him to church because she was in the process of relocating that day.
The actress, however, only decided to go to church with him after some prodding. He assumed that when she started sobbing during the sermon, it was because the speech had impacted her.
It turned out, though, that she was sobbing because she immediately realized Hermann would be the guy she would wed. The very idea that she had discovered her spouse brought her to tears because destiny was at work.
The two started dating after their first outing and even had plans to be married and have a family. In an interview with People, she revealed:
“We were aware of our desire for marriage.”
Yet after a time of dating, Hargitay showed up at work one day looking dejected. She explained to Meloni that she and Hermann had a lengthy chat and realized their relationship would not last.
She said that they had both sobbed while speaking. All Meloni could think of while Hargitay described her difficulties to him was how the two of them would eventually find one other and wed.
They did, too. After settling their issues, the couple reconnected. A few months later, on Hargitay’s 40th birthday, Hermann turned to her and knew he wanted to be with her forever. He remembers:
“I believe I got a glimpse of what she looks like when she is planted and is in the soil that she was intended to be put in. I wished I could be that earth. equivalent to that
The couple wed on August 28, 2004, in Santa Barbara, California, after three years of dating. While they both agreed that they had discovered “the one,” they were unaware of how wonderful their relationship would end up becoming. They were happy they had taken the time to find and wed the perfect person.
Hargitay and Hermann were delighted to find they were expecting almost two years after they said “I do.” Long before they exchanged vows, the couple knew they wanted a family of their own.
Hargitay claims she was ecstatic. No one wanted to be pregnant more than she did, so as soon as she learned she was expecting, she began dressing like a pregnant woman even though her tummy was still flat.
She had thought that the pregnancy would go more smoothly, but that did not happen. She started turning to food for comfort as a result of the stress of longer workdays and the show’s extended hours of production. She had gained a lot of weight by the time she entered the third trimester, which led to the development of gestational diabetes.
On June 28, 2006, Hargitay and her husband received their first child, a son named August, at the age of 42. Although experiencing pregnancy and labor complications, she was overjoyed to become a mother.
The couple revealed that August desired siblings a few years later. Although both of Hargitay’s parents hailed from large families, they desired the same for their own kids. They adopted Amaya Josephine, whose birth they attended, since they believed they had lots of love to share.
Son Andrew was their third child, whom they adopted and brought home six months later. The actress admitted that although she and her husband had not anticipated adopting Andrew, they had no doubts about their desire to do so.
While Hargitay acknowledges that parenthood has not always been simple, she claims that it has been rewarding. She had to figure out how to manage her career and family obligations, but she did a great job. She clarified:
“It’s tough. I won’t claim it’s simple; it’s challenging. I’m becoming better at [balancing]. I make a point of being completely in the moment. I only work while I’m working. I am always with my children while they are around.
A HAPPY FIVE-PERSON FAMILY
Even though 18 years is a long marriage by Hollywood standards, Hargitay and her partner have worked hard to make it work and have become one of the industry’s most forward-thinking couples.
Hermann acknowledged that there is no magic formula for a happy marriage and that they, like everyone else, were still working through it. Yet, he acknowledged that adhering to the principles was crucial:
“That doesn’t imply they are simple, but they are not overly difficult. The basics are compassion, attentive listening, and just combat.
The “Hard Time Romance” actress and her husband enjoy a wonderful marriage and are proud of their offspring. The five members of the family are steadfast and steadfastly supportive of one another.
Celebrate important occasions, like Hargitay did on her Instagram page on their 18th wedding anniversary. The actress shared a picture of herself and her spouse taken on their wedding day in black and white along with the remark, “Eighteen years. Grateful. in love. Together.”
