Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Maggie Gyllenhaal: A career in pictures

As new drama The Kindergarten Teacher is released, we look back at the film's stars best roles

Louis Chilton
Tuesday 05 March 2019 14:12 GMT
Comments
Trailer for The Kindergarten Teacher, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Maggie Gyllenhaal may have been born into the film industry, but it was her talent that got her where she is today.

Her mother, Naomi Foner – then Naomi Achs – was a screenwriter and producer while her father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, was an independent filmmaker. It was in their father’s films that a teenage Maggie and her brother – Jake Gyllenhaal – made their acting debuts.

After a few years of minor roles, most prominently a supporting turn in Donnie Darko, Gyllenhaal’s career took off with a lead role in the acclaimed sadomasochistic romance Secretary.

Her most well-known Hollywood role came in 2008 smash hit The Dark Knight, but Gyllenhaal has also pursued many transgressive smaller-budget projects exploring human sexuality, including 40 Days and 40 Nights, Happy Endings, Trust the Man and Hysteria. Most recently, she has had a regular role on HBO’s sex-themed 1970s drama The Deuce, the latest show from The Wire creator David Simon.

Here, we look back on some of the highlights of Gyllenhaal’s career, which spans more than two decades.

Her new film, The Kindergarten Teacher, is released in cinemas on 8 March.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in