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IMDbPro

Maggie Gyllenhaal

  • Actress
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000458
Maggie Gyllenhaal at an event for The 82nd Annual Academy Awards (2010)
From 'Secretary' to 'The Lost Daughter,' we celebrate Maggie Gyllenhaal's acting and directing career in movies and television.
Play clip1:58
Maggie Gyllenhaal | Career Retrospective
73 Videos
99+ Photos
Maggie Gyllenhaal was born on November 16, 1977 in New York City, New York as Margalit Ruth Gyllenhaal, the daughter of producer/screenwriter Naomi Foner and director Stephen Gyllenhaal, and the older sister of actor Jake Gyllenhaal. She is of Ashkenazi Jewish (mother) and Swedish, English, and German (father) descent.

She made her film debut in Waterland (1992). She had sporadic roles throughout her teenage years though she took a break to attend Columbia University where she graduated w/ a degree in literature in 1999. In addition, she briefly studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, which helped w/ her post-graduation transition back into acting.

Soon after graduating, she had supporting roles in Cecil B. Demented (2000) & Donnie Darko (2001). Her breakout role came later when she starred in Secretary (2002), which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She followed that up w/ supporting roles in 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Adaptation. (2002), & Mona Lisa Smile (2003) among other movies. She received her 2nd Golden Globe nomination for playing a recent prison parolee in Sherrybaby (2006). She followed that up w/ roles in World Trade Center (2006), Stranger Than Fiction (2006) & The Dark Knight (2008).

In 2009, she received great acclaim for her role in Crazy Heart (2009), which earned her 1st Oscar nomination. Since then, she has been seen in Nanny McPhee Returns (2010), Hysteria (2011) & Won't Back Down (2012).
BornNovember 16, 1977
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornNovember 16, 1977
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000458
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 45 wins & 94 nominations total

    Photos584

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    Known for

    James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Secretary (2002)
    Secretary
    6.9
    • Lee Holloway
    • 2002
    Christian Bale in The Dark Knight (2008)
    The Dark Knight
    9.0
    • Rachel
    • 2008
    Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart (2009)
    Crazy Heart
    7.2
    • Jean Craddock
    • 2009
    Frank (2014)
    Frank
    6.9
    • Clara
    • 2014

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actress



    • Best Summer Ever (2020)
      Best Summer Ever
      5.1
      • TV Reporter
      • 2020
    • Mind's Eye: A Sensory Guide to the Guggenheim New York
      6.2
      Podcast Series
      • Narrator
      • 2020
    • James Franco, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., and Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Deuce (2017)
      The Deuce
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Eileen 'Candy' Merrell
      • Eileen 'Candy Renee' Merrell
      • 2017–2019
    • The Ben Cobb Show (2019)
      The Ben Cobb Show
      Short
      • Amun Ra
      • 2019
    • Maggie Gyllenhaal and Parker Sevak in The Kindergarten Teacher (2018)
      The Kindergarten Teacher
      6.7
      • Lisa
      • 2018
    • The New Empress (2016)
      The New Empress
      5.9
      Short
      • Olive
      • 2016
    • Home (2016)
      Home
      6.1
      Short
      • Ruth
      • 2016
    • Beauty Mark (2016)
      Beauty Mark
      6.3
      Short
      • Valerie
      • 2016
    • Amy Schumer in Inside Amy Schumer (2013)
      Inside Amy Schumer
      6.1
      TV Series
      • Maggie Gyllenhaal
      • 2016
    • Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Honorable Woman (2014)
      The Honorable Woman
      7.9
      TV Mini Series
      • Nessa Stein
      • 2014
    • River of Fundament (2014)
      River of Fundament
      6.2
      • Hathfertiti
      • 2014
    • Frank (2014)
      Frank
      6.9
      • Clara
      • 2014
    • Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum in White House Down (2013)
      White House Down
      6.3
      • Finnerty
      • 2013
    • The Corrections (2012)
      The Corrections
      6.8
      TV Movie
      • Denise
      • 2012
    • Won't Back Down (2012)
      Won't Back Down
      6.4
      • Jamie Fitzpatrick
      • 2012

    Producer



    • The Bride
      • producer
      • Post-production
      • 2026
    • Farnsworth House
      • executive producer
      • Pre-production



    • Olivia Colman in The Lost Daughter (2021)
      The Lost Daughter
      6.7
      • producer (produced by, p.g.a.)
      • 2021
    • Best Summer Ever (2020)
      Best Summer Ever
      5.1
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • James Franco, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., and Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Deuce (2017)
      The Deuce
      8.1
      TV Series
      • producer
      • 2017–2019
    • Maggie Gyllenhaal and Parker Sevak in The Kindergarten Teacher (2018)
      The Kindergarten Teacher
      6.7
      • producer
      • 2018

    Director



    • The Bride
      • Director
      • Post-production
      • 2026



    • Olivia Colman in The Lost Daughter (2021)
      The Lost Daughter
      6.7
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2021
    • Homemade (2020)
      Homemade
      6.1
      TV Mini Series
      • Director
      • 2020

    Videos73

    Maggie Gyllenhaal and Dakota Johnson Ask Each Other Anything
    Clip 3:33
    Maggie Gyllenhaal and Dakota Johnson Ask Each Other Anything
    Maggie Gyllenhaal | Career Retrospective
    Clip 1:58
    Maggie Gyllenhaal | Career Retrospective
    Maggie Gyllenhaal | Career Retrospective
    Clip 1:58
    Maggie Gyllenhaal | Career Retrospective
    "Mrs. Docherty's Shop" from Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
    Clip 0:55
    "Mrs. Docherty's Shop" from Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
    "Nanny Teaches the Kids a Lesson" from Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
    Clip 1:26
    "Nanny Teaches the Kids a Lesson" from Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
    "Synchronized Swimming" from Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
    Clip 1:02
    "Synchronized Swimming" from Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
    Away We Go -- "Antwerp"
    Clip 0:40
    Away We Go -- "Antwerp"

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
    • Height
      • 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
    • Born
      • November 16, 1977
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Spouse
      • Peter SarsgaardMay 2, 2009 - present (2 children)
    • Children
        Ramona Sarsgaard
    • Parents
        Naomi Foner
    • Relatives
      • Jake Gyllenhaal(Sibling)
    • Other works
      Her credits at Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum include: "Priscilla Ceiling" in "Homebody/Kabul" by Tony Kushner (2003) and "Alice" in "Closer" by Patrick Marber (2000, also Berkeley Repertory Theatre).
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Portrayal
      • 6 Interviews
      • 17 Articles
      • 5 Pictorials
      • 10 Magazine Cover Photos

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Graduated from Columbia University (1999).
    • Quotes
      I do seem to have a bit of a predilection for movies that say something transgressive.
    • Salary
      • World Trade Center
        (2006)
        $500,000

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