Maggie Gyllenhaal, who recently released her second film as a director, The Bride!, has shared insights into how directing actors varies greatly depending on their individual styles. Speaking about her experience, she emphasized the importance of adapting her approach when working with diverse actors, including Dakota Johnson and Annette Bening.
Appearing on Late Night this past Monday, Gyllenhaal reflected on the lessons from her first film as a director, The Lost Daughter. She highlighted that
each actor needs to be spoken to and interacted with in a different way.
This realization has become a central part of her directing process, which she carried forward into her new project.
Contrasting Direction Styles with Johnson and Bening
Gyllenhaal described Dakota Johnson as highly receptive to multiple notes in the moment, saying,
Some actors, you can give them seven notes that just occurred to you, and they’ll love them. Like Dakota Johnson, I think is like that,
illustrating Johnson’s flexibility and openness during filming.
However, directing Annette Bening, who portrays Dr. Euphronious in The Bride!, required a more measured approach. Gyllenhaal discovered early that Bening responded differently to notes and direction, explaining with humor,
If I tried that with Annette Bening, she would be like ‘Walk away.’ You know?
She added,
But I learned that really quickly, and I took the note.
Box Office Performance and Critical Reception
Despite Gyllenhaal’s growing confidence in her directing, The Bride! has struggled commercially. The film grossed only $7.3 million domestically and $13.6 million worldwide during its opening, far below its $80 million production budget and an additional $65 million spent on marketing. The financial losses are significant, although reviews have been mixed, balancing both praise and criticism.
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s reflections illuminate the nuanced challenges directors face when tailoring their guidance to fit the needs of varied performers, hinting at her continued growth in this demanding role.
