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 Maggie Begins
Maggie Gyllenhaal Talks About Making Happy Endings, Copying Cyndi Lauper's Hairstyle And Reading Moby-Dick. Then She Steps On Her Cat.
INSTINCT: Hi, Maggie! What about Happy Endings appealed to you?
MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL: I read a lot of scripts that pretend they’re about human beings but really are Hollywood fantasies. I thought Happy Endings was about real people who are complicated and do fucked-up things and also do compassionate, lovely things: real, whole, full people.
How’d you feel tackling a character as complex as Jude?
I felt like she could so easily be seen as manipulative and nasty, and I actually thought she was amazing. It was more of a challenge to myself, I think. She does things that can seem despicable, so it was a challenge to find what’s redeeming in that. I believe she thinks that she’s partially doing something right. Both of the men she’s involved with are dead inside until she breaks onto the scene. She’s almost like an angel in some ways.
Your singing is one of the highlights of the movie. Any plans for a CD?
[Laughs] I doubt it. In fact, I was kind of embarrassed that I liked to sing. It’s one of those actor things that can be kind of disgusting, like, I’m an actress, but actually also I sing. [Laughs] I just like to sing. It’s not something I have to record. I would like to do a musical, if it were a really good one. I think there’s going to be a resurgence of interesting musicals.
Do you believe in happy endings?
Umm, like the kind you get at the massage place? [Laughs] I don’t really believe in endings. I think things constantly shift between seeming like they’re going to work out or not. There’s some irony in “happy endings,” not just because it’s a double entendre, but also because a happy ending is very subjective and really complicated.
What’s your favorite book?
OH! Oh, I just stepped on my cat!
I haven’t read that one.
Ohhh! George, I’m sorry! You’re running away from me? George, I’m so sorry! He’s a little kitten, and he’s totally running away from me.
Awww. Poor kitty!
I just read a couple of novels that were really great. Hold on, let me get my cat out of his little house! George, I’m so sorry I stepped on your foot! He’s a new little kitten. I’ve never had a cat before. This is a new experience.
How long have you had him?
I got him when I was in California, so he’s pretty new. This sounds kind of pretentious, I know, but I’m reading Moby-Dick. I’ve never read it, and it’s hard, but it’s been so good. It’s a wise book.
Do you have any regrets over parts that got away?
There was one role that broke my heart that I didn’t get, which was the first time they did Tony Kushner’s Homebody/Kabul. I was desperate to be in it and went through tons of auditions, and the director wouldn’t hire me. There have been others that were so upsetting and really hurt, but that’s how it is when you’re an actor. You really have to believe that it all falls where it’s supposed to. Even if you see it, and you’re like, What the fuck was that person thinking in my part? [Laughs] Although I’ve almost never had that feeling. Once I don’t get it, I let it go.
How’d you end up getting a cat?
You know, I never thought I would be an animal person. I didn’t grow up with pets. Then my brother got a dog, and my mom kind of inherited a kitten. I watched them both have relationships with these animals. For my birthday, my mom said, “We’ll go down to the pound, and we’ll find you a cat.” I really didn’t want it. She found this little kitten in the rescue section at the Farmers Market, and told me to go look at him. I just totally fell in love with him; it was weird.
How’d he get his name?
It just came to me. [Laughs] I never would have ever thought I would have an animal or that I would ever name it George! It just came to me. I just looked at him and said, “He’s a George.” [Laughs] He’s so cute!
Aww. What chick would you switch for?
Maybe the young Diane Keaton. I think she was hot: smart, sexy and foxy.
Growing up, were you a tomboy or a girly girl?
I was pretty girly, but not prissy. When I was in fifth grade, I wanted to do my hair like Cyndi Lauper’s. So I took this piece of tulle from a dress-up box and tied a big bow on top of my head, with one of the sides covering my eye. [Laughs] When we were playing volleyball in PE, I really didn’t want to move my bow, so I couldn’t play.
You should bring that look back!
No, I think I’d like to use both of my eyes. [Laughs]
If you had a totally free Friday night at home, what would you do?
I would probably try to go through my closet, which I’ve been trying to do for a really long time, and get rid of all the things I don’t wear. I’ve been reading a lot lately. Order in, probably. I like to cook, but my kitchen in New York, you can’t do any cooking in it. I’d probably order in some food, try to go through my closet and read. Oh, my little cat is just lying in my arms now, after running away from me all over my apartment. [Laughs]
Sounds like a happy ending to me.
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