An American actress, the daughter of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal (née Achs) and the older sister of actor Jake Gyllenhaal. She made her screen debut when she began to appear in her father's films and later achieved recognition in a supporting role in the indie cult hit Donnie Darko (2001). She made her breakthrough role in the 2002 sadomasochistic romance Secretary, for which she received critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination. She has appeared in an eclectic range of films, including the indie film Sherrybaby (2006), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe, the romantic comedy Trust the Man (2006) and big-budget films such as World Trade Center (2006) and The Dark Knight (2008). She next starred in the 2009 musical-drama Crazy Heart, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.