Thirty-two year-old actress Maggie Gyllenhaal opens up to USA today about being a Hollywood Mom. Gyllenhaal is best known for her role in last summer’s huge blockbuster, The Dark Knight. She also starred in Nanny McPhee. Her newest film, Crazy Hearts, is now in theatres. Gyllenhaal is married to actor Peter Sarsgaard. They have a three-year-old daughter, Ramona, together.
The mom states, "Being a mother forces me to be so responsible. I'm very protective, and I try to keep [Ramona] out of this Hollywood stuff." She seems to be doing a great job keeping her private life quiet. She admits, “I make mistakes. I have that tug of wanting things that feel good to me and trying to figure out in what ways I have to sacrifice and what ways she has to sacrifice. I haven't been perfect at that." She explained that it is difficult to balance time with her daughter, her husband, and her working life. Sound familiar?
The legendary actress, Emma Thompson, who worked with Gyllenhaal in Nanny McPhee, once texted her some advice. “You have to let yourself drop the ball. Human beings do that. If you don't, some really important part of you won't survive.” Gyllenhaal says she thinks about the text all the time. “I want to be [Emma] when I grow up,” she said.
Gyllenhaal says that motherhood has completely changed her. "I thought the idea was to be as strong as you could in my work, in my life. To just be fierce and bold. I don't think that anymore. I've gotten softer.” Her costar in Crazy Hearts, Jeff Bridges, explains that “with Maggie, there's a tenderness and sensitivity for herself and others. She's very open and sweet, and then she has a tough side, too, that is protective of her tenderness."
Maggie, we are sure you are a wonderful Mom!
