Maggie Gyllenhaal

Margalit "Maggie" Ruth Gyllenhaal (born November 16, 1977) is an American actress and filmmaker. Part of the Gyllenhaal family, she is the daughter of filmmakers Stephen Gyllenhaal and Naomi Achs, and the older sister of actor Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal began her career as a teenager with small roles in several of her father's films, and appeared with her brother in the cult favorite Donnie Darko (2001). She then appeared in Adaptation, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (both 2002), and Mona Lisa Smile (2003). Gyllenhaal received critical acclaim for her leading performances in the erotic romantic comedy drama Secretary (2002) and the drama Sherrybaby (2006), each of which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. After several commercially successful films in 2006, including World Trade Center, she received wider recognition for playing Rachel Dawes in the superhero film The Dark Knight (2008). For her performance as a single mother in Crazy Heart (2009), she received a nomination for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She subsequently starred in the comedies and dramas: Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010), Hysteria (2011), and Won't Back Down (2012). Her other roles include a Secret Service agent in the action-thriller White House Down (2013), a musician in Frank (2014), and the title role in the drama The Kindergarten Teacher (2018). In 2021, Gyllenhaal made her writing and directing debut with the psychological drama The Lost Daughter, for which she won ...

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The Dark Knight (2008)

Action-packedBrilliantDarkIntense

Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Nolan
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Heath Ledger  •  Aaron Eckhart  •  Michael Caine

Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Nolan
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Heath Ledger  •  Aaron Eckhart  •  Michael Caine

The Sturgeon Queens (2014)

Four generations of a Jewish immigrant family create Russ and Daughters, a Lower East Side lox and herring emporium that survives and thrives. Produced to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the store, this documentary features an extensive interview with two of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Julie Cohen
CAST:  Josh Russ Tupper  •  Hattie Gold  •  Niki Russ Federman  •  Anne Russ Federman

Four generations of a Jewish immigrant family create Russ and Daughters, a Lower East Side lox and herring emporium that survives and thrives. Produced to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the store, this documentary features an extensive interview with two of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Julie Cohen
CAST:  Josh Russ Tupper  •  Hattie Gold  •  Niki Russ Federman  •  Anne Russ Federman

40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)

Matt Sullivan's last big relationship ended in disaster and ever since his heart's been aching and his commitment's been lacking. Then came Lent, that time of year when everybody gives something up. That's when Matt decides to go where no man's gone before and make ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Lehmann
CAST:  Josh Hartnett  •  Shannyn Sossamon  •  Adam Trese  •  Emmanuelle Vaugier

Matt Sullivan's last big relationship ended in disaster and ever since his heart's been aching and his commitment's been lacking. Then came Lent, that time of year when everybody gives something up. That's when Matt decides to go where no man's gone before and make ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Lehmann
CAST:  Josh Hartnett  •  Shannyn Sossamon  •  Adam Trese  •  Emmanuelle Vaugier

Adaptation. (2002)

FunnyOriginalCleverWhimsical

Nicolas Cage is Charlie Kaufman, a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother Donald. While struggling to adapt "The Orchid Thief," by Susan ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Jonze
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  Meryl Streep  •  Chris Cooper  •  Tilda Swinton

Nicolas Cage is Charlie Kaufman, a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother Donald. While struggling to adapt "The Orchid Thief," by Susan ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Jonze
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  Meryl Streep  •  Chris Cooper  •  Tilda Swinton

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)

Television made him famous, but his biggest hits happened off screen. Television producer by day, CIA assassin by night, Chuck Barris was recruited by the CIA at the height of his TV career and trained to become a covert operative. Or so Barris said.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Clooney
CAST:  Sam Rockwell  •  Drew Barrymore  •  Julia Roberts  •  Rutger Hauer

Television made him famous, but his biggest hits happened off screen. Television producer by day, CIA assassin by night, Chuck Barris was recruited by the CIA at the height of his TV career and trained to become a covert operative. Or so Barris said.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Clooney
CAST:  Sam Rockwell  •  Drew Barrymore  •  Julia Roberts  •  Rutger Hauer

Criminal (2004)

Needing a new partner capable of intricate cons, Richard Gaddis, recruits Rodrigo, a crook with a perfect poker face. The two plan a big-time scam: selling a fake Silver Certificate to currency collector William Hannigan. Rodrigo distrusts his new associate, but ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gregory Jacobs
CAST:  John C. Reilly  •  Diego Luna  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Peter Mullan

Needing a new partner capable of intricate cons, Richard Gaddis, recruits Rodrigo, a crook with a perfect poker face. The two plan a big-time scam: selling a fake Silver Certificate to currency collector William Hannigan. Rodrigo distrusts his new associate, but ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gregory Jacobs
CAST:  John C. Reilly  •  Diego Luna  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Peter Mullan

Donnie Darko (2001)

SuspensefulDisturbingThought provokingDark

After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Kelly
CAST:  Jake Gyllenhaal  •  Patrick Swayze  •  Drew Barrymore  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal

After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Kelly
CAST:  Jake Gyllenhaal  •  Patrick Swayze  •  Drew Barrymore  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal

Happy Endings (2005)

Filmmaker Nicky offers to track down the son that Mamie gave up for adoption nearly two decades before. Meanwhile, Mamie's stepbrother (and the father of her child), Charley, along with his boyfriend, Gil, try to find out what became of the sperm Gil donated to a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Roos
CAST:  Lisa Kudrow  •  Steve Coogan  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Jesse Bradford

Filmmaker Nicky offers to track down the son that Mamie gave up for adoption nearly two decades before. Meanwhile, Mamie's stepbrother (and the father of her child), Charley, along with his boyfriend, Gil, try to find out what became of the sperm Gil donated to a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Roos
CAST:  Lisa Kudrow  •  Steve Coogan  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Jesse Bradford

Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

Thought provokingSlow movingMindlessBeautiful

The story of Katherine Ann Watson, a feminist teacher who studied at UCLA graduate school and in 1953 left her boyfriend behind in Los Angeles, California to teach at Wellesley College, a conservative women's private liberal arts college in Massachusetts, United States.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Newell
CAST:  Julia Roberts  •  Kirsten Dunst  •  Julia Stiles  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal

The story of Katherine Ann Watson, a feminist teacher who studied at UCLA graduate school and in 1953 left her boyfriend behind in Los Angeles, California to teach at Wellesley College, a conservative women's private liberal arts college in Massachusetts, United States.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Newell
CAST:  Julia Roberts  •  Kirsten Dunst  •  Julia Stiles  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal

Monster House (2006)

MysteriousScaryAdventurousCreepy

Monsters under the bed are scary enough, but what happens when an entire house is out to get you? Three teens aim to find out when they go up against a decrepit neighboring home and unlock its frightening secrets.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gil Kenan
CAST:  Ryan Whitney Newman  •  Steve Buscemi  •  Mitchel Musso  •  Sam Lerner

Monsters under the bed are scary enough, but what happens when an entire house is out to get you? Three teens aim to find out when they go up against a decrepit neighboring home and unlock its frightening secrets.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gil Kenan
CAST:  Ryan Whitney Newman  •  Steve Buscemi  •  Mitchel Musso  •  Sam Lerner

Paris Je T'aime (2006)

EnjoyableFunnyOriginalBeautiful

Olivier Assayas, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven and Alfonso Cuaron are among the 20 distinguished directors who contribute to this collection of 18 stories, each exploring a different aspect of Parisian life. The colourful characters in this drama include a pair of mimes ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gérard Depardieu  •  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen  •  Wes Craven  •  Alfonso Cuarón  •  Alexander Payne  •  Tom Tykwer  •  Sylvain Chomet  •  Gus Van Sant  •  Vincenzo Natali  •  Richard LaGravenese  •  Isabel Coixet  •  Olivier Assayas  •  Walter Salles  •  Bruno Podalydès  •  Oliver Schmitz  •  Gurinder Chadha  •  Nobuhiro Suwa  •  Daniela Thomas  •  Frédéric Auburtin  •  Christopher Doyle
CAST:  Steve Buscemi  •  Axel Kiener  •  Julie Bataille  •  Bruno Podalydès

Olivier Assayas, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven and Alfonso Cuaron are among the 20 distinguished directors who contribute to this collection of 18 stories, each exploring a different aspect of Parisian life. The colourful characters in this drama include a pair of mimes ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gérard Depardieu  •  Joel Coen  •  Ethan Coen  •  Wes Craven  •  Alfonso Cuarón  •  Alexander Payne  •  Tom Tykwer  •  Sylvain Chomet  •  Gus Van Sant  •  Vincenzo Natali  •  Richard LaGravenese  •  Isabel Coixet  •  Olivier Assayas  •  Walter Salles  •  Bruno Podalydès  •  Oliver Schmitz  •  Gurinder Chadha  •  Nobuhiro Suwa  •  Daniela Thomas  •  Frédéric Auburtin  •  Christopher Doyle
CAST:  Steve Buscemi  •  Axel Kiener  •  Julie Bataille  •  Bruno Podalydès

Riding in Cars with Boys (2001)

In 1965, a young woman with dreams of becoming a writer has a son at the age of 15 and struggles to make things work with the drug-addicted father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Penny Marshall
CAST:  Drew Barrymore  •  Steve Zahn  •  Adam Garcia  •  Brittany Murphy

In 1965, a young woman with dreams of becoming a writer has a son at the age of 15 and struggles to make things work with the drug-addicted father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Penny Marshall
CAST:  Drew Barrymore  •  Steve Zahn  •  Adam Garcia  •  Brittany Murphy

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

OriginalEnjoyableThought provokingMind blowing

Harold Crick is a lonely IRS agent whose mundane existence is transformed when he hears a mysterious voice narrating his life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Will Ferrell  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Dustin Hoffman  •  Queen Latifah

Harold Crick is a lonely IRS agent whose mundane existence is transformed when he hears a mysterious voice narrating his life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Will Ferrell  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Dustin Hoffman  •  Queen Latifah

The Great New Wonderful (2005)

The Great New Wonderful weaves five stories against the backdrop of an anxious and uncertain post-9-11 New York City.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Danny Leiner
CAST:  Olympia Dukakis  •  Jim Gaffigan  •  Judy Greer  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal

The Great New Wonderful weaves five stories against the backdrop of an anxious and uncertain post-9-11 New York City.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Danny Leiner
CAST:  Olympia Dukakis  •  Jim Gaffigan  •  Judy Greer  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal

Trust the Man (2005)

Overachieving actress Rebecca must come to grips with her failing marriage to stay-at-home dad Tom. While Rebecca's slacker brother Tobey can't seem to commit to his aspiring-novelist girlfriend, Elaine. As both relationships spin out of control, the two couples ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bart Freundlich
CAST:  David Duchovny  •  Julianne Moore  •  Billy Crudup  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal

Overachieving actress Rebecca must come to grips with her failing marriage to stay-at-home dad Tom. While Rebecca's slacker brother Tobey can't seem to commit to his aspiring-novelist girlfriend, Elaine. As both relationships spin out of control, the two couples ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bart Freundlich
CAST:  David Duchovny  •  Julianne Moore  •  Billy Crudup  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal

World Trade Center (2006)

Two police officers struggle to survive when they become trapped beneath the rubble of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Stone
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  Maria Bello  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Michael Peña

Two police officers struggle to survive when they become trapped beneath the rubble of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Stone
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  Maria Bello  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Michael Peña

Secretary (2002)

Thought provokingIntenseRomanticComplex

A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Shainberg
CAST:  James Spader  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Jeremy Davies  •  Lesley Ann Warren

A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Shainberg
CAST:  James Spader  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Jeremy Davies  •  Lesley Ann Warren

Cecil B. Demented (2000)

An insane independent film director and his renegade group of demented filmmakers kidnap an A-list Hollywood actress and force her to star in their underground film.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Waters
CAST:  Melanie Griffith  •  Stephen Dorff  •  Alicia Witt  •  Adrian Grenier

An insane independent film director and his renegade group of demented filmmakers kidnap an A-list Hollywood actress and force her to star in their underground film.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Waters
CAST:  Melanie Griffith  •  Stephen Dorff  •  Alicia Witt  •  Adrian Grenier

Casa de los Babys (2003)

A group of women, including Skipper, the wealthy young Jennifer and the domineering Nan, journey from the United States to South America in hopes of easily adopting children. Unfortunately, their plans are complicated by local laws that require the women to live in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sayles
CAST:  Daryl Hannah  •  Lili Taylor  •  Mary Steenburgen  •  Marcia Gay Harden

A group of women, including Skipper, the wealthy young Jennifer and the domineering Nan, journey from the United States to South America in hopes of easily adopting children. Unfortunately, their plans are complicated by local laws that require the women to live in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sayles
CAST:  Daryl Hannah  •  Lili Taylor  •  Mary Steenburgen  •  Marcia Gay Harden

Won't Back Down (2012)

Thought provokingInspiringReal

Jamie Fitzpatrick and Nona Alberts are two women from opposites sides of the social and economic track, but they have one thing in common: a mission to fix their community's broken school and ensure a bright future for their children. The two women refuse to let ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Barnz
CAST:  Viola Davis  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Ving Rhames  •  Lance Reddick

Jamie Fitzpatrick and Nona Alberts are two women from opposites sides of the social and economic track, but they have one thing in common: a mission to fix their community's broken school and ensure a bright future for their children. The two women refuse to let ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Barnz
CAST:  Viola Davis  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Ving Rhames  •  Lance Reddick
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