Mariska Hargitay Adopts A Baby

Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay (Olivia on the show) has surprised just about everyone by announcing that her and actor husband Peter Hermann have adopted a baby girl.

Hargitay may be one of the few actresses who decided to adopt from within her own country, adopting Amaya Josephine after she was born in the United States just one week ago.

After the adoption Hargitay, 47 told PEOPLE:

“I’m deliriously happy,” and “From the minute she was born, she was just surprisingly alert and so full of love.”

“We were considering both international and domestic adoption and we’re thrilled that this is the way our prayers were answered,” she adds. “We talked a lot about mixed-race adoptions, and we are very excited that we are now a multi-racial family. We’re just so happy she’s here.”

Amaya joins the Hargitay family which includes four year old son August who Mariska says is excited to have a baby sister.