Maggie Gyllenhaal

Born on November 16, 1977, New Yorker Margaret Ruth Gyllenhaal comes from a family with close ties to cinema. Maggie is the daughter of director Stephen Gyllenhaal , related to the Swedish nobility, and a firm follower of the theories of the philosopher and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg. Her mother, the writer Naomi Foner , has worked as a screenwriter and producer of titles like A place in nowhere . Her little brother, Jake Gyllenhaal , started in movies before her and has become a very popular face actor.

An exemplary student, Maggie graduated in Philosophy from Columbia University with outstanding marks. She later enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, a prestigious London acting school.

Before finishing her studies, her father offered her the opportunity to debut as an actress in El país del agua , Una mujer peligro y Cosecha own . In the last two of her, her brother Jake, just a teenager who had just made his debut as the son of Billy Crystal in City Cowboys, also joined the cast . She played Jake’s on-screen sister in Richard Kelly’s surreal cult film Donnie Darko .

The experience of shooting a “Martian” film took its toll on Maggie, who for a long time chose a supporting role in commercial films ( The Boys in My Life , 40 Days and 40 Nights , Mona Lisa Smile ), but tried to get as far away as possible. possible from the “mainstream”. The actress was especially good at searching for indescribable projects, such as Cecil B. Demented , by John Waters , or Secretary , where she had an insane sadomasochistic relationship with her boss, played by James Spader , another regular at this type of film. .

Of note are two small appearances in films scripted by Charles Kaufman , Adaptation. The Orchid Thief , by Spike Jonze , and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind , directed by George Clooney . And also his work at Casa de los Babys , with which John Sayles denounced the reality of adoption processes in some Ibero-American countries. She was the lead actress in Criminal , a rundown remake of Nine Queens , and a bakery owner who falls in love with Will Ferrell , in the surprising Stranger Than Fiction , which went largely unnoticed.

A firm defender of the Democratic party, Gyllenhaal has had a toll on some political statement. After the 9/11 attacks, she sparked controversy by stating that “the United States has done reprehensible things and is somehow responsible.” After receiving numerous criticisms, she knew how to be wise enough to rectify, she regretted having suggested that her country deserved such a tragedy and, above all, she publicly regretted having spoken about this topic during promotional interviews for one of her films.

At the World Trade Center , Gyllenhaal had the opportunity to work with one of the survivors of the attacks, Will Jimeno, and his wife. He told them that he would leave the project if they did not think she was a suitable actress for the role, but they replied that they were delighted with her presence.

After taking part in a segment of the collective film Paris, je t’aime , and voicing a cartoon character for the first time in Monster House , Maggie Gyllenhaal turned her career around by accepting a leading role in a blockbuster, The Dark Knight , of a quality much higher than most films about superheroes. Her impeccable work as Rachael Dewes, girlfriend of prosecutor Harvey Dent ( Aaron Eckhart ), and lifelong friend of Batman ( Christian Bale ) has completely consecrated her to the great public.

Gyllenhaal fell in love with one of her brother Jake’s best friends, actor Peter Sarsgaard . They have had a daughter together whom they named Ramona. On film, Maggie has played some very different mothers, the deranged farm girl in The Magical Nanny and the Big Bang , and the mystical, maniacal woman in A Place to Stay .

With such a distinctive career, it’s no wonder it took a while for Maggie Gyllenhaal to get an Oscar nomination. Finally, she has landed an award nomination with her work as a journalist trying to tell the story of the lead singer ( Jeff Bridges ), in Rebel Heart ; in that movie, she is also a mother.