Margaret Ruth “Maggie” Gyllenhaal was born on November 16, 1977, in New York City, to director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal (née Achs). Her younger brother is actor Jake Gyllenhaal. She is of Swedish, English, and Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Gyllenhaal graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles in 1995 and attended Columbia University, where she studied literature and Eastern religions, graduating in 1999.
Maggie Gyllenhaal began her acting career with minor roles in films directed by her father, including Waterland (1992) and A Dangerous Woman (1993). Her early roles also included appearances in films like Homegrown (1998).
Gyllenhaal achieved widespread recognition for her performance in the independent film Secretary (2002), for which she received a Golden Globe Award nomination. The film established her as a prominent actress known for taking on challenging and unconventional roles.
Her filmography includes a diverse range of roles in both independent and mainstream cinema. Some of her most popular and critically acclaimed films include:
In addition to her film work, Gyllenhaal has also appeared in several television series. She received a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the miniseries The Honourable Woman (2014