I’m not going to lie, Maggie Gyllenhaal is one of my favorite actresses–largely because she takes risks and plays characters who are deeply complex. More so, Gyllenhaal also just seems like a down-to-earth person–the Jewish actress and mom of two is not only known for starring in films like “Secretary,” but for her charity and social activist work as well.
She’s campaigned on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), for instance, and has been supporting the Hear the World Foundation as ambassador since 2008. Because today is her birthday–she turns 39 today–I decided to highlight some of my favorite moments from her career:
1. She starred in “Secretary,” alongside James Spader, where she played a secretary with a darker side:
2. She played sister to her real-life brother, Jake Gyllenhaal, in the cult classic “Donnie Darko.”
3. That time she was in “Batman” with Heath Ledger, NBD:
4. When she sang “Honesty” in “Happy Endings,” proving to us she can really sing:
5. She got asked 10 questions by Time, and had 10 great answers:
6. This excellent conversation with (fellow Jewish actor!) Liev Schrieber:
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