Maggie Gyllenhaal is an American actress born in 1977 in New York City. She attended Harvard-Westlake prep school and Columbia University, graduating with a BA in literature and Eastern religions. Gyllenhaal has been acting since 1992 and is known for roles in films such as Secretary, Donnie Darko, Crazy Heart, and The Dark Knight. She continues to take acting very seriously, having also studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.