Maggie Gyllenhaal Gets Real About The Challenges Of Being A Female Director

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut “The Lost Daughter” (which co-stars Dakota Johnson) was released on Netflix December 17, 2021. Since its release, it’s been amassing stellar ratings on sites like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Recently the highest praise came for Gyllenhaal in the form of an Oscar Nomination, and she’s been basking in the excitement ever since. 

Reflecting on the experience, Gyllenhaal told People, “My favorite part of the whole [awards season experience] has been meeting people whose films I love, hearing from people who have way more experience than I do, how they’re thinking about film, what they’re working on, how they work. It’s really been cool; I’m being included in that community.”

For a new director with a long acting career, an Oscar nomination is cause for celebration. In addition to awards shows and parties, though, Gyllenhaal made some time to attend a panel for Women’s History Month hosted by Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills. The actress and director sat on a panel alongside “Zola” director Janicza Bravo, and the two shared their real and raw thoughts on the experience of being a female director in Hollywood.