Gyllenhaal was born in New York City, the daughter of film director Stephen Gyllenhaal and film producer and screen-writer Naomi Achs. Jake Gyllenhaal, her brother, is also an actor. Gyllenhaal's father was raised in the Swedenborgian religion and is a descendant of the Swedish noble Gyllenhaal family; her last Swedish ancestor was her great-great-grandfather, Anders Leonard Gyllenhaal. Her mother Read more...

Gyllenhaal's first film roles were directed by her father: Waterland (1992), her feature film debut, A Dangerous Woman (1993), and Homegrown (1998); the latter two also featured her brother. After graduating from college, she had a number of supporting roles, in such films as 40 Days and 40 Nights, Riding in Cars with Boys, and Cecil B. Demented. Paper magazine has described these roles, including Read more...

Gyllenhaal has been in a relationship with actor Peter Sarsgaard since 2002. They announced their engagement in April 2006. They have a daughter, Ramona, born on October 4, 2006, and reside in Brooklyn, New York. Sarsgaard is close friends with Gyllenhaal's brother Jake.

In November 2007, Gyllenhaal volunteered to help raise funds for TrickleUp.org, a non-profit organization that helps people Read more...