Jake Gyllenhaal
Birthday: 19 December 1980, Los Angeles, California, USA
Birth Name: Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal
Height: 180 cm
Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal was born in Los Angeles, to producer/screenwriter Naomi Foner (née Achs) and director Stephen Gyllenhaal. He is the brother of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, who played his sist ...Show More
[on what he is personally fearful of] Many things. I think we're living in a particularly scary time Show more
[on what he is personally fearful of] Many things. I think we're living in a particularly scary time. But I'm Jewish so I have a tendency towards anxiety. With my work, no matter how much time and preparation I've had, I'm always scared. But I know what a privilege it is to do the job that I do. I know how amazing it is to be able to choose the work that I do. Hide
[on why he dislikes films with obvious political messages]: It's very important for me to be in movi Show more
[on why he dislikes films with obvious political messages]: It's very important for me to be in movies that don't have a message. Messages tend to be a little preachy, and I don't think that's what movies are about. It's important for me to be in movies that have a human level, have a heart in them. That's the reason why I did this (Rendition (2007)) and it just so happens to be really topical. This political issue is a very important one right now which, as Americans, we need to look at. So it seems like it's (the film) is very political, it seems like there's a message in it, but ultimately there's a real story about human beings dealing with actual human things. Hide
One of the greatest performances I've ever seen is Max Pomeranc as the young boy in Searching for Bo Show more
One of the greatest performances I've ever seen is Max Pomeranc as the young boy in Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993). Something about watching a child and his ability to be honest, and his desperation for honesty, even in the midst of all the adults surrounding them, which is essentially what that movie is about, and the performance itself is so present and exists on its own even today. Hide
Coming from a family where my mom is a writer, I just respond to how people speak.
Coming from a family where my mom is a writer, I just respond to how people speak.
On the one role that got away: "I'd have to say Ewan McGregor's part in Moulin Rouge! (2001). It was Show more
On the one role that got away: "I'd have to say Ewan McGregor's part in Moulin Rouge! (2001). It was soooo close. I sang and everything. I went through months of auditions. It was between me, Heath Ledger and Ewan. I think it came down to age and where people were in their careers. I was the youngest and the least known. I would hope it didn't have anything to do with talent. Maybe it did". Hide
Annie (Anne Hathaway) and I already had sex on film in Brokeback Mountain (2005), so I wasn't too ne Show more
Annie (Anne Hathaway) and I already had sex on film in Brokeback Mountain (2005), so I wasn't too nervous. There's something about the way Annie and I both work which is inherently very musical. It's all about rhythm. There's a rhythm to writing, there's a rhythm to sports and there's a rhythm to sex. (On Love & Other Drugs (2010)) Hide
In a perfect world, I would love to do one play for every three movies.
In a perfect world, I would love to do one play for every three movies.
[on playing Donnie Darko] For me, personally, when approaching the role, it was sort of hard to figu Show more
[on playing Donnie Darko] For me, personally, when approaching the role, it was sort of hard to figure out, because there's so many things that he gets hit with. I think that Donnie is what he comes in contact with. Hide
[on his failed audition for the role of Frodo Baggins] I remember auditioning for The Lord of the Ri Show more
[on his failed audition for the role of Frodo Baggins] I remember auditioning for The Lord of the Rings and going in and not being told that I needed a British accent. I really do remember Peter Jackson saying to me, "You know that you have to do this in a British accent?" We heard back it was literally one of the worst auditions. Hide
My dad descends from the Swedish Gyllenhaal family, a noble lineage that my ancestor Nils Gunnarsson Show more
My dad descends from the Swedish Gyllenhaal family, a noble lineage that my ancestor Nils Gunnarsson Haal established in the 17th century and which has been very influential in Sweden for a long time. My great-grandfather emigrated to the USA. But I see myself as a Jew since my mother is a Russian-Jewish New Yorker. Hide
I think my strength is to do a take all the way through. I am definitely not someone who can do a sp Show more
I think my strength is to do a take all the way through. I am definitely not someone who can do a sprint. Maybe I am not that smart, but it takes me a while to find the moment, and I like to be pushed toward it. Hide
We live in a sad time where actors are politicians & politicians are actors.
We live in a sad time where actors are politicians & politicians are actors.
"You know, it's flattering when there's a rumor that says I'm bisexual. It means I can play more kin Show more
"You know, it's flattering when there's a rumor that says I'm bisexual. It means I can play more kinds of roles. I'm open to whatever people want to call me. I've never really been attracted to men sexually, but I don't think I would be afraid of it if it happened." (Details, December 2005) Hide
[on Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler (2014)] My grandfather (whose parents were immigrants from Russia) h Show more
[on Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler (2014)] My grandfather (whose parents were immigrants from Russia) he really wanted me at one point to read this story about Billy the Kid, because Billy the Kid was an immigrant, essentially, and he was someone that came here to reinvent himself, and that America is made up, obviously, out of the idea of reinvention, and that Billy the Kid is this quintessential American character, and was an immigrant. He reinvented his identity to become the quintessential American. And I think that Lou is a product of the times; he's been created... Hide
When you grow up there is some compromising to do. But compromising creative instinct is never good.
When you grow up there is some compromising to do. But compromising creative instinct is never good.
[Working with sister on Donnie Darko (2001)] It was really hard for me and my sister, I was nineteen Show more
[Working with sister on Donnie Darko (2001)] It was really hard for me and my sister, I was nineteen years old and she was twenty three I would always say "what are you doing? That's acting to you?" and she would say "oh you suck" so then I would say you're such a faker" it was very "sibling-esque" but my sister is probably the reason why I do this, she's somebody I admire more than anybody in the world and drives me fucking nuts sometimes Hide
First, it's "Who is Jake Gyllenhaal?," then it's "Get me Jake Gyllenhaal," then "Get me someone who Show more
First, it's "Who is Jake Gyllenhaal?," then it's "Get me Jake Gyllenhaal," then "Get me someone who looks like Jake Gyllenhaal," and then "Who is Jake Gyllenhaal?"...Right now, I'm between "Who is Jake Gyllenhaal? and "Get me Jake Gyllenhaal."" [Gyllenhaal on the stages of fame in Hollywood] Hide
[on training for the police movie, End of Watch (2012)] We were all Tased. The whole cast. We decide Show more
[on training for the police movie, End of Watch (2012)] We were all Tased. The whole cast. We decided that we thought it would be a sort of semi-bonding experience. When we had a choice between between pepper spray and being Tased, we were told by the professionals that Tasing was probably the preference because pepper spray lasts for a long time after. And a Tase is done in moments. Se we decided to go for quick and painful. Hide
"Being a star doesn't last. That's not what life should be about. It's a complete illusion that real Show more
"Being a star doesn't last. That's not what life should be about. It's a complete illusion that really has nothing to do with you. For me, finding out about life is the most important thing." (1999, Raygun) Hide
The biggest mistake that I've made is not really admitting to myself that filmmaking is a director's Show more
The biggest mistake that I've made is not really admitting to myself that filmmaking is a director's medium. We all get into situations where we're working with people, and we try to control that. But I realized once I'm gone it's going to be the director's vision from here on out. Hide
I admire actors and artists who devote just as much time to their life as they do to their work.
I admire actors and artists who devote just as much time to their life as they do to their work.
It's only appropriate as an indulgent actor to think about quitting 'cause it's such an intense job.
It's only appropriate as an indulgent actor to think about quitting 'cause it's such an intense job.
The truth is most of the films that make a lot of money no one remembers, and I'm not interested in Show more
The truth is most of the films that make a lot of money no one remembers, and I'm not interested in making films that no one remembers. Hide
[Advice for acting students] The way you behave with everybody is more important than the work you d Show more
[Advice for acting students] The way you behave with everybody is more important than the work you do. Generosity, kindness, and patience will get you so far: that's the biggest lesson I've learned. Hide
"I fooled around with Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams got pregnant." Interview about filming Brok Show more
"I fooled around with Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams got pregnant." Interview about filming Brokeback Mountain (2005), 2006. Hide
Some movies you fall a step behind and some you stay in the same place, make the same choices. And t Show more
Some movies you fall a step behind and some you stay in the same place, make the same choices. And then sometimes there are people who know more than you but show you, and that's the maximum you can hope for - doing that with someone who says, "I like you for what you are, and I want you to be in my picture." I didn't have to fake it or put on a mask - all the resources I had inside me were more than adequate. I don't want to pretend to be something ... I'm not pretending any more to fit somebody's mold. That's a long-winded statement but - why not do what you really think, even if it's a mistake? Hide
[My parents] were relatively progressive in their spiritual beliefs: my father is Christian and my m Show more
[My parents] were relatively progressive in their spiritual beliefs: my father is Christian and my mother is Jewish. On my 13th birthday, they thought it was important for me to experience a rite of passage, an entrance into manhood, and the consensus was that we would do something for the good of the community, some charitable work - a barmitzvah-like act, without the typical trappings. So we went to a homeless shelter and we did some work there and then I had the party - the celebration - there. Hide
Jake Gyllenhaal's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (170)
Jake Gyllenhaal'S roles
