[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/03_maggie_1w570h712.jpg]]
->''"When you are in every scene of a movie - which I must say I really much prefer - you have more control over the film that you're making. Because the choices you make as an actor can't help but change what the movie is saying."''

Margolit Ruth "Maggie" Gyllenhaal (born November 16, 1977 in Manhattan, New York) is an American actress and filmmaker.

She's best known for her performances in ''Film/{{Secretary}}'', ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', ''Film/StrangerThanFiction'', ''Film/CecilBDemented'', and for playing sister to her [[RealLifeRelative real life brother]], Creator/{{Jake|Gyllenhaal}}, in ''Film/DonnieDarko''. She has one [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]] nomination, for Best Supporting Actress for ''Film/CrazyHeart''. She made her directing debut in 2021 with ''Film/TheLostDaughter''.

She married Creator/PeterSarsgaard in 2009. Incidentally, she's technically a member of the [[BlueBlood Swedish nobility]] (the Gyllenhaals date back to 1652).
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!!This actress' work provides examples of:

* ConvertedFanboy: Not originally a comic book fan, but became a convert once [[http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-july-17-2008/maggie-gyllenhaal Batman swooped in to save her from falling off a skyscraper.]]
* FakeBrit: She pulls off a great English accent in ''The Honourable Woman''.
* HollywoodOld: In 2015, the 37-year-old actress was turned down for a role as the love interest... to a 55-year-old [[http://www.thewrap.com/maggie-gyllenhaal-on-hollywood-ageism-i-was-told-37-is-too-old-for-a-55-year-old-love-interest/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mailchimp actor]].
* TheOtherDarrin: She replaced Creator/KatieHolmes as Rachel Dawes in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' after ''Film/BatmanBegins''.
* RealLifeRelative: She and brother Jake played siblings in ''Film/DonnieDarko''. They both also appeared in two films directed by their father in ''A Dangerous Woman'' and ''Homegrown''.
* StarMakingRole: ''Film/{{Secretary}}''. Her memorable performance as a sadomasochistic secretary got her a Golden Globe nomination.
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