Maggie Gyllenhaal has just made her film debut with her Netflix psychological thriller movie, The Lost Daughter.
While the cast has some major names including Dakota Johnson, Paul Mescal and Peter Sarsgaard - Olivia Colman stars as the main protagonist, Leda.
In an honest admission, Gyllenhaal explained Colman "didn’t like to talk" all that much to her during filming.
Watch a snippet of The Lost Daughter. Post continues after video.
In an interview with the New York Times, the director said she believed that perhaps the British actor assumed her ideas wouldn't be "valued".
"Olivia really didn’t like to talk about much," she explained. "I wonder, actually, if it’s because it was relatively recently that she got power as an actress, if she feels similarly to the way I feel as an actress, which is its very rare that somebody values my ideas.
"They will say they do, but people are irritated by actresses with a lot of ideas. I’m not an idiot, and so I mostly keep them to myself. I remember asking Olivia if she likes to rehearse, and she said, 'I don’t, actually,' and I totally relate to that."
Gyllenhaal's directing debut may have only just sprung into action this year, but the actor and philanthropist knew she was meant to be a director, after she played a fictional porn director on HBO's The Deuce.
"I just didn't feel entitled to admit it to myself," she told Insider. "So weirdly I think it was playing Candy on The Deuce, playing a porn director on television when I kind of went, 'This is me actually.' And I think it's true, I think it's a better job for me."
The Lost Daughter is based off of the novel by Elena Ferrante, and explores the concept of motherhood through the lens of a college professor, who is forced to confront her deeply unsettling past after meeting a woman and her daughter while on vacation.
The film, says Colman, made her feel less alone in her struggles with motherhood.
"It's interesting to find out that you're not alone," The Crown actor explained. "My family, I would die for them. But when they were smaller and I was exhausted, I had those moments of, 'Just leave me alone for a minute' or 'Put the telly on' – which I disagreed with, but (to hell with) it sometimes. And you felt bad, because you were that mummy who was trying to sleep on the floor."
Colman has three kids with writer Ed Sinclair, her husband of 20 years.
The movie was filmed on the Greek island of Spetses, which Colman explained forced the cast and crew to work inextricably close together.
"I've never been on a more idyllic set," she said. "We got on so well, which is lucky, because we were on an island and literally couldn't escape each other. We spent the evenings listening to guitar, we drank, and we forgot to learn our lines for the next day. And it was fine!"
Listen to The Spill, Mamamia's entertainment podcast. Post continues after audio.
Interestingly enough, Gyllenhaal worked with her husband, Scarsgaard for the film, but admitted she initially found it awkward to direct her husband of 12 years in a sex scene.
"I did think at first, 'Maybe it's not a great idea,' and then I was like, 'I've been with my husband for a long time. We've been through so much. I know my husband loves me. Who could do this better than him?' Really, nobody," she told The View.
"The sexuality, it's strange; it's a weird part of our job," she continued. "The thing that makes the scene hot, I think, is that he's hot for her mind — her mind. What is sexier than that? He's like, 'I am into your mind.' ... Really, that kind of sexy is irresistible."
The Lost Daughter, has already dominated the awards season so far - taking out a number of Gotham Awards for best feature, breakthrough director, best screenplay, and outstanding lead performance for Olivia Colman.
Feature Image: Netflix / Mamamia.
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