Hargitay and Peter Hermann have been married for nearly 20 years after falling in love at first sight. The show’s co-star with Hargitay, Christopher Melani, who played detective Elliot Stabler, explains how the enviable love story came to be.
When Hargitay, who plays the brave Lieutenant Olivia Benson, first met Hermann, who had joined the show as a guest actor and was portraying defense attorney Trevor Langan, she fell in love.
Meloni claims that she started acting like a schoolgirl, but because he had known her for so long, he was certain that she had never behaved that way as a result of anyone else.
She made an effort to conceal her feelings for Hermann, but anyone watching her could see them. Meloni continues, “Oh my God, it feels like I’m back in high school, or even elementary school.
They soon started dating, and according to Hargitay, their first date was “too fantastic to be true. She was in the middle of moving that day, so Hargitay hesitated when he asked her to go to church with him.
But it was only after some prodding that the actress agreed to accompany him to church. He figured she was affected by the sermon because she started crying during it.
However, it turned out that she was crying because she knew Hermann was the man she would marry. She started crying at the very thought of having found her husband because destiny was at work.
Following their initial outing, the two began dating and even discussed getting married and starting a family. She disclosed the following in an interview with People.
“We knew we wanted to get married.
”.
But after a while of dating, Hargitay one day appeared at work looking defeated. She told Meloni that after a lengthy conversation with Hermann, she came to the conclusion that their relationship would not endure.
She acknowledged that they had both been crying throughout their conversation. Meloni could only imagine how the two of them would eventually find each other and get married as Hargitay told him about her struggles.
Additionally, they did.
The couple reconnected once their differences were resolved. A few months later, on Hargitay’s 40th birthday, Hermann looked at her and knew he wanted to be with her forever. He recalls that.
“I think I caught 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 desired to be that earth. That kind of thing!”.
Three years of dating later, on August 28, 2004, the couple tied the knot in Santa Barbara, California. Despite the fact that they both believed they had found “the one,” they were unaware of how wonderful their relationship would ultimately turn out to be. They were glad they had taken the time to find and marry the ideal match.
Nearly two years after saying “I do,” Hargitay and Hermann were overjoyed to learn they were expecting. The couple knew they wanted to start a family before they even said their vows.
Hargitay claims to have been overjoyed. No one wanted to be pregnant more than she did, so as soon as she found out she was expecting, she started dressing like one even though her belly was still flat.
Although she had hoped for a smoother pregnancy, it was not to be. Because of the strain of longer workdays and the show’s extended production hours, she began using food as comfort. By the third trimester, she had gained a lot of weight, which caused gestational diabetes to manifest.
At the age of 42, Hargitay gave birth to a son named August on June 28, 2006. She was ecstatic to become a mother despite having difficulties with her pregnancy and labor.
The couple admitted that August wanted siblings a few years later. Hargitay’s parents wanted big families for their own families because they came from big families themselves. They attended the birth of Amaya Josephine and decided to adopt her because they felt they had a lot of love to share.
Their third child, son Andrew, was adopted and brought home six months later. The actress acknowledged that while she and her husband had not planned to adopt Andrew, they were certain of their desire to do so.
Parenting has not always been easy, but Hargitay insists that it has been rewarding. She had to learn how to balance her responsibilities to her family and her job, but she did an excellent job. She made the following points clear:.
It’s difficult.
I’m not going to say it’s easy; it’s difficult.
I’m improving at [balancing]. I make it a point to live in the present. I only work when I’m working. When my children are present, I am always with them.
A GLAD FIVE-PERSON FAMILY.
Even though 18 years is a long marriage by Hollywood standards, Hargitay and her partner put a lot of effort into making it work and have since established themselves as one of the most progressive couples in the business.
Hermann admitted that they were still working through it, just like everyone else, and that there is no secret to a happy marriage. But he admitted that sticking to the fundamentals was important:.
“That doesn’t mean they’re easy, but they’re not too hard either. The fundamentals are kindness, careful listening, and straightforward combat.
The “Hard Time Romance” actress and her husband have a great marriage and are proud of their children. The five family members stand by and support one another unwaveringly.
Celebrate significant events, as Hargitay did on her Instagram page for her and her husband’s 18th wedding anniversary. The actress wrote alongside a black and white photograph of herself and her spouse taken on their wedding day, “Eighteen years. Grateful. in a union.
Together.
”.
