Maggie Ruth Gyllenhaal aka Maggie biography

Real biography: Introduction

She's an hot young actress, who's more than just a sister to current heart-throb Jake Gyllenhaal.

Life Story

Maggie Gyllenhaal, daughter of director Stephen Gyllenhaal, made her film debut in her father's film Waterland in 1992. She followed that with two more films, A Dangerous Woman and Homegrown which also featured her brother, Jake Gyllenhaal. After graduating with an English degree from Columbia University, Maggie had a few more small film roles including, Cecil B. Demented (Melanie Griffith) and 40 Days and Nights with Shannyn Sossamon. She was then cast in the cult-favorite Donnie Darko as Donnie's sister, opposite her real-life brother Jake.

Maggie had her breakout performance in 2002 opposite James Spader in Secretary. This dark comedy about a secretary's S&M relationship with her boss brought Maggie a lot of attention and her performance earned her a Golden Globe Nomination. She then had a few more small roles in Mona Lisa Smile (alongside Kirsten Dunst and Julia Roberts) and Charlie Kauffman's comedy Adaptation. She also appeared and sang in the film,Happy Endings, and recorded songs for the film's soundtrack. In 2006, she was nominated for another Golden Globe for her performance in Sherry Baby. She can be seen most recently in World Trade Center and Stranger Than Fiction. She has also appeared on stage in a production of Patrick Marber's Closer and in a production of Tony Kushner's Homebody/Kabul.

Following the 9/11 attacks, Maggie drew criticism when she said that the US “is responsible in some way...” She responded to criticism later by saying, “Not to have the courage to ask these questions of ourselves is to betray the victims of 9/11.”

Maggie Gyllenhaal has been engaged to actor Peter Sarsgaard since 2006. They have a one year old daughter together named Ramona.