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The Library
Chicago Sun Times - Family business working out well for Gyllenhaal
Interviewed by Cindy Pearlman
September 5th 2004
Source: --
She comes from one of Hollywood's quietest dynasties. Her father is
director Stephen Gyllenhaal ("A Dangerous Woman," "Losing Isaiah"), her mother is Oscar-nominated
screenwriter Naomi Foner ("Running on Empty," "A Dangerous Woman"), and her younger brother is actor
Jake Gyllenhaal ("Donnie Darko," "The Day After Tomorrow").
A few years ago, Maggie decided to earn her B.A. in English from Columbia
University and study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Meanwhile, her brother
decided to move head first into a major acting career.
Was there sibling rivalry at family dinners?
"Jake's career took off first, which was great," she says. "At the same time I went to
college and decided that I would graduate before I began to audition for jobs. There were still times when
I'd be taking an exam and thinking, 'Oh, my God. That's my little brother up there!' Why are you buried in a
book and not putting yourself out there?'"
These days the acting siblings hold their own in Hollywood as both their stars are on the rise.
Maggie Gyllenhaal's new movie "Criminal," opening Friday, is getting rave reviews.
The film -- an English language remake of the Argentine film "Nine Queens" (2000) -- stars John C.
Reilly, Diego Luna and Gyllenhaal. It's a story of grifters, cons and cheats and the chances they take when
it comes to making a big score.
"I can't really tell you too much about it, because it will ruin the surprises," Gyllenhaal
says. "All I can say it that it's a subtle movie and intense."
The intensity fits in with Gyllenhaal's larger plan for making movies.
"What I always hoped is that I would be able to use making movies and doing theater to say
things that were interesting and provocative and important."
Gyllenhaal is choosy when it comes to roles, however, and doesn't care if her name is above
the title.
"I've read tons of big budget films, and many times I just think, I don't care to see this
movie. I don't care if this is going to be a huge big deal for me. I just don't want to do this film."
Yet she isn't opposed to larger films. She signed on for last year's "Mona Lisa Smile" with
Julia Roberts because the character wasn't just the girlfriend or the background babe.
"I played a student who was confident about herself as a sexy, beautiful woman. Prior to
that movie that was something that I never had the balls to try onscreen," Gyllenhaal admits.
She's actually full of confessions.
"Those traits were also something that I'm working on for myself," she says. "It's funny how
movies really help you on a personal level, too."
Gyllenhaal isn't intimidated when it comes to working with big-name talent like Roberts.
"I'm like everyone else in a way because I'm excited to meet big stars," she says. "I'm also
very curious to work with some of the big names to see how they find a character."
Gyllenhaal also could ask her folks, who schlepped young Jake and Maggie to movie sets when
the two were growing up in Los Angeles, where they attended Harvard-Westlake prep school. The kids weren't content
to sit on the sidelines. Both got their "acting breaks," thanks to nepotism, when their father cast them in small
roles in "A Dangerous Woman" (1993) and "Homegrown" (1996).
After college, Maggie appeared in "Cecil B. DeMented" (2000), "Donnie Darko" (2001) and "Riding
in Cars with Boys" (2001).
Playing the troubled Lee Holloway in "Secretary" (2002) turned her into an indie film darling.
It was a risky role because her character is a worker who participates in S/M activities with her boss (James Spader).
"I read that script and got really excited, but I was also very nervous later on because of the
sex in it and the S&M stuff," she says. "I knew that in the wrong hands, the movie could have been anti-feminist
and a reactionary film. I had no intention of being a part of something like that.
"But then I met [director] Steve Shainberg, and he made it clear to me that this wouldn't be
the case," she says. "He couldn't sum the movie up in three sentences, either, which I loved.
"Steve just told me he wanted to shake things up that seemed immovable," she says. "I liked
that statement."
Gyllenhaal had no problem with the screen nudity.
"The toughest part was watching the movie. I think the first four or five times I saw
'Secretary,' I was like, 'Whatever. I'm naked. Who cares.' It didn't bother me. Then the sixth time I watched
it, I felt so uncomfortable.
"That's when I realized that I must have been so super uncomfortable before that I couldn't
even acknowledge it," she says, laughing. "But I learned to deal with it."
After "Secretary," Gyllenhaal was cast in "Adaptation" (2002), "Confessions of a Dangerous
Mind" (2002), "Casa de los Babys" (2003) and "Mona Lisa Smile."
Next on her slate is the Don Roos ensemble comedy "Happy Endings."
She also stars with Edie Falco in the post-Sept. 11 drama "The Great New Wonderful," which
will open in 2005.
Even with all of these good things happening to her, Gyllenhaal remains her own toughest
critic. Ask her how it feels to be famous and she puts her hands on her face in mock horror.
"I don't talk in those terms," she says. "Each time I make a movie I'm still the one who
thinks, 'What if no one sees it? What if no one likes it?'
"Let's just say I'm cautious when it comes to believing all the hype," she says. "I guess
I just want to protect myself because who knows what will happen."
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