SmartLess "Maggie Gyllenhaal"
18 snips
Mar 23, 2026 
Maggie Gyllenhaal, acclaimed actor-turned-director behind The Lost Daughter and The Bride, chats about moving from acting into directing. She discusses directing at larger scale, working with actors, worldbuilding a 1936-styled film, and using VFX to serve story. Plus scenes about family life in Vermont and small pleasures like Wordle.
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Make Space So Actors Can Take Risks
- Do create a directing environment that frees actors instead of making them protect small choices.
- Maggie says directing lets you make space so actors don’t have to “protect their little thing” and can offer more to the film.
Terrified Before The Bride Despite Prior Film
- Maggie felt far more terrified before making The Bride than The Lost Daughter despite prior directing experience.
- The Bride had bigger scope, budget, IMAX cranes, and Maggie worried until the crew’s expertise settled her.
Match Your Notes To Each Actor's Language
- Tailor your communication to each actor’s language rather than using one style for everyone.
- Maggie found Jesse Buckley responded to candid talk while Olivia Colman needed a different approach learned on day one.