Maggie Gyllenhaal - attractive, or am I missing something?

[Stink Fish Pot]

I've never personally found Maggie Gyllenhaal attractive, but that's ok.. there are many women I do find attractive that others don't.

However, I happened to catch the latest Batman with Christian Bale and Heath Ledger a couple of days ago, and Maggie was the love interest of Bruce Wayne and Gotham's DA (can't remember his name).

To me, she doesn't even border on attractive, so the movie lost credibility with me from the outset. She is tall, but her posture is terrible. She slouches horribly, rolling her shoulders forward. Because of this, when she walks in heels, she resembles a question mark. Her breasts also sag in a way that would indicate that she's never worn a bra... finally, her face isn't classic Hollywood beautiful, so close-ups on her don't help.

I know I am sounding incredibly harsh and shallow, and I don't mean to. It's just that her character in the movie was supposed to be beautiful and turn the heads of every man in Gotham, and she wouldn't get a second glance from me. I asked my wife what she thought, and she agreed that Maggie isn't the most attractive woman to her, either and doesn't understand why Hollywood has tried to paint her as a sexy actress.

So, what say you dopers? Is she attractive to you and am I just missing that something special that others see, or do you also question why so many find her attractive?

[KneadToKnow]

She is more than the sum of her parts. She has a sexiness that is hard to put words to. She is, in short, attractive, yes.

But I would not call her "beautiful," to be fair.

[SaharaTea]

I wouldn't call her bombshell sexy, but I think she's attractive in an unusual kind of way.

I'm not terribly impressed with her acting though. I thought she was miscast in both The Dark Knight and Crazy Heart.

[astro]

Originally Posted by Stink Fish Pot

So, what say you dopers? Is she attractive to you and am I just missing that something special that others see, or do you also question why so many find her attractive?

I'm stunned by a post that references a person's attractiveness that doesn't have one single, solitary link to a pic.

She more quirky "cute" vs being glamorous, but I'm always found quirky looking women more attractive than bombshells.

Here's google images 1st page.

[ftg]

There is something that comes from within that puts a nice shine on her looks. That and the "sum of the parts" thing mentioned above. It's a gestalt and then some.

It depends on the role fitting her persona too. See Stranger Than Fiction where there's a good match. Her role in The Dark Knight is too glam. It's like casting Denise Richards as a scientist.

[KneadToKnow]

FWIW, the first role I think I really noticed her in was Secretary, which may have predisposed me to think of her as sexy.

[Stink Fish Pot]

Originally Posted by astro

I'm stunned by a post that references a person's attractiveness that doesn't have one single, solitary link to a pic.

Here's one. . She more quirky "cute" vs being glamorous, but I'm always found quirky looking women more attractive than bombshells.

Here's google images 1st page.

Sorry. This is a good point, however I thought that most people would know what she looks like, and I just posted the OP because it was on my mind. I'll dig out some pics that show her poor posture if I can.

However, based on the replies, it seems that many people do find her attractive, so I may be in a huge minority on this one.

[Stink Fish Pot]

Here's one picture with her poor posture and rolled shoulders.

Here's another one, with her bad posture and saggy breasts.

These came from the first page of google photos that astro provided.

I have to say that the first few photos on that google page showed her in a much different light than I've ever seen her before. So, I can see how some people could see her in lingerie and give her the benefit of the doubt.

[astro]

Here's a kind of oddball glam pic. I looked at the pic for moment wondering where that weird flesh colored head pillow behind her came from, until I realized it was her shoulder. Creepy!

[Skald the Rhymer]

Originally Posted by KneadToKnow

She is more than the sum of her parts. She has a sexiness that is hard to put words to. She is, in short, attractive, yes.

This. I sometimes call women like her synergy or je ne sais quoi hotties. Alyson Hannigan is another one of these.

[KneadToKnow]

Not having seen her nude, I can't be sure, but I don't think she has sagging breasts, I think they are just, for want of more proper medical terminology, set low on her torso.

[Alessan]

It's funny - I didn't find her sexy until I saw the Dark Knight. She just seemed so smart and, well, real.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Originally Posted by Alessan

It's funny - I didn't find her sexy until I saw the Dark Knight. She just seemed so smart and, well, real.

This is also true of me. I honestly think that part of the reason she was cast as the love interest in Dark Knight is that she is not conventionally attractive. She made a better contrast with the bimbos Wayne dallies with that Katie Holmes.

Plus, of course, the fact that Katie Holmes was unable to get out of her force field prison at stately Cruise manner.

[Justin_Bailey]

She's attractive, but she's only ever been hot once: Stranger Than Fiction.

Note, I've never seen Secretary.

[Superhal]

Assuming she has a pulse, she's attractive enough.

[gaffa]

Originally Posted by KneadToKnow

She is more than the sum of her parts. She has a sexiness that is hard to put words to. She is, in short, attractive, yes.

Absolutely. She, or at least the roles she plays, has a sexiness that so many far more conventionally "beautiful" actresses cannot deliver. She's in that same category as Sissy Spacek or Kate Winslet.

[elfkin477]

Eh, I can't figure out why other women find her brother particularly attractive, either.

[RealityChuck]

Her sexiness is in her attitude, not her looks. A picture doesn't do justice, but on film, she gives all the signs of being sexy and smart. The Dark Knight doesn't do her justice, either, since she wasn't allowed to be herself.

If you want to rate her on purely physical appearance, you're missing the point (not to mention, it's a piss-poor way of judging how attractive someone is).

[Skald the Rhymer]

Originally Posted by RealityChuck

Her sexiness is in her attitude, not her looks. A picture doesn't do justice, but on film, she gives all the signs of being sexy and smart. The Dark Knight doesn't do her justice, either, since she wasn't allowed to be herself.

Discarding the critique of her performance in DK, I find that statement odd. It is not an actress's job to be herself.

[Covered_In_Bees!]

No Maggie is not attractive. She has a reallly weird face and that's all it takes to ruin a woman's attractiveness to me. Her ass and legs could make up for it, if they were any good. As they are, she's not attractive.

[Odesio]

I don't think it was implied in the Dark Knight that she was supposed to be the sexiest woman in Gotham turning heads and stopping traffic. She was a credible love interest though.

[Stink Fish Pot]

Originally Posted by RealityChuck

If you want to rate her on purely physical appearance, you're missing the point (not to mention, it's a piss-poor way of judging how attractive someone is).

Yeah, yeah... I've already admitted I'm shallow. But thanks for the reminder.

I'm not judging her personality here, and I don't care if she'd be a great neighbor, or someone to talk to over a cup of coffee.

I'm judging purely on looks. That's as shallow as you can get.

[Cuckoorex]

Originally Posted by Skald the Rhymer

Discarding the critique of her performance in DK, I find that statement odd. It is not an actress's job to be herself.

I took it to mean that she wasn't allowed to play to her strengths (character acting versus method acting, that sort of thing). Another hypothetical example would be casting Ellen Page as a dumb, stuck-up insecure cheerleader; her presence and natural affectations lend themselves much more to the "precocious, intelligent, more mature than she looks, woman-child."

[Stink Fish Pot]

Originally Posted by Covered_In_Bees!

No Maggie is not attractive. She has a reallly weird face and that's all it takes to ruin a woman's attractiveness to me. Her ass and legs could make up for it, if they were any good. As they are, she's not attractive.

Thank you! At least ONE person feels the way I do. I was starting to wonder if my personal taste in women and what I find attractive are completely off the beam.

[SciFiSam]

Originally Posted by Stink Fish Pot

Sorry. This is a good point, however I thought that most people would know what she looks like, and I just posted the OP because it was on my mind. I'll dig out some pics that show her poor posture if I can.

However, based on the replies, it seems that many people do find her attractive, so I may be in a huge minority on this one.

No, I think you have a point. Many individuals finding her attractive, especially when it's for a quirky cuteness or overall charm (which I can see), doesn't mean that she's the kind of conventional beauty she was supposed to be in the Dark Knight. She was miscast.

[outlierrn]

Color me in the hubba hubba hubba seats. See Secretary

from the google page
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uaxrp_-Co5...Gyllenhaal.bmp
yes please


but I will concede the whole quirky, maybe/maybe not, depends on context thing.

[Khadaji]

Yeah, I think she's cute.

[Thudlow Boink]

Originally Posted by Stink Fish Pot

Here's one picture with her poor posture and rolled shoulders.

Here's another one, with her bad posture and saggy breasts.

I am going to say Hell Yes she's attractive, and nothing in these pictures causes me to think otherwise.

I think the smiling she's doing in most of the pictures Google turned up has something to do with it. A cute, winsome smile kicks posture's ass any day.

[Hampshire]

Not the greatest but still attractive.
Much better than someone like Angelina Jolie who I am absolutley flumoxed why people think she's attractive. The massive forehead, bugged out eyes, fish lips? She a freak.

[Sleeps With Butterflies]

I don't think she's unattractive, but I don't thinks she's attractive either. I do think she's a really good actress.

A couple of my guy friends call her "Old Hound Dog" because that's what they think she looks like.

[Stink Fish Pot]

Originally Posted by Sleeps With Butterflies

A couple of my guy friends call her "Old Hound Dog" because that's what they think she looks like.

"Old Hound Dog" cracked me up!

[Vinyl Turnip]

I agree wholeheartedly with the OP, and wondered if I were the only one. Who knew—before poor Maggie came slouching along—that posture would be something I'd even notice, let alone find an important element of a woman's attractiveness?

And yet, I look at her sometimes and want to scream "SIT UP STRAIGHT!"

[Covered_In_Bees!]

Originally Posted by Stink Fish Pot

Here's one picture with her poor posture and rolled shoulders.

Here's another one, with her bad posture and saggy breasts.

These came from the first page of google photos that astro provided.

I have to say that the first few photos on that google page showed her in a much different light than I've ever seen her before. So, I can see how some people could see her in lingerie and give her the benefit of the doubt.

Dear lord! Much unlike Thudlow, neither of these pictures have done anything to make me think she's attractive. Her face is prominently featured in both pictures and just... ugh. She doesn't even have any damn breasts for me to ogle fer cryin out loud!

[Chronos]

I wouldn't call her "sexy", per se, but she is cute. Both are perfectly valid forms of attractiveness.

[The Understander]

I think she looks sweet. Cute and kissable.

If she needs help with her posture, I'd volunteer to rub her shoulders and back until she can stand upright... and then do her until she can't.

[Lunchy]

I don't find her attractive. My friends don't find her attractive either. That said, she would have been fine in Dark Knight if The Joker didn't call her beautiful 3 times. It almost felt forced. To me she looked like a shaved rat.

[NDP]

Originally Posted by Stink Fish Pot

I've never personally found Maggie Gyllenhaal attractive, but that's ok.. there are many women I do find attractive that others don't.

...

So, what say you dopers? Is she attractive to you and am I just missing that something special that others see, or do you also question why so many find her attractive?

I think Maggie Gyllenhaal is attractive but she's more "real world attractive" as opposed to "Hollywood attractive." A girl like her would seem pretty enough if you saw her working in your office or at a Starbucks.

Originally Posted by KneadToKnow

She is more than the sum of her parts. She has a sexiness that is hard to put words to. She is, in short, attractive, yes.

But I would not call her "beautiful," to be fair.

That's pretty much how I feel about her. She's cute but not beautiful. She's basically a throwback to the 1960s and 70s when Hollywood was casting a lot of "unconventional looking" actors and actresses in leading roles. Also, on a purely superficial level, his face is quirky-looking but she does have a nice pair of legs.

[Alessan]

Originally Posted by scifisam2009

No, I think you have a point. Many individuals finding her attractive, especially when it's for a quirky cuteness or overall charm (which I can see), doesn't mean that she's the kind of conventional beauty she was supposed to be in the Dark Knight. She was miscast.

Actually, I thought she was exactly the type of woman a couple of men like Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent would think of as their soulmate. Do you think those two would care about superficial beauty?

She was perfectly cast.

[Beware of Doug]

I'd hit it. And twice on Sundays.

[Covered_In_Bees!]

Originally Posted by Beware of Doug

I'd hit it. And twice on Sundays.

Well yeah, so would I. She's just not attractive, which means she wouldn't attract me from across a room or anything.

[pancakes3]

so the answer is... she's cute ENOUGH, and has a girl-next-door-factor that's through the roof

[KneadToKnow]

Originally Posted by gaffa

Sissy Spacek

You, too? OMG, have you seen the video of her twirling a baton from Saturday Night Live?

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I think she's hot. She's got a nerd-girl hotness that's appealing to me.

[TheFifthYear]

I think she's totally hot, no qualifications necessary.

[TBG]

I was quite distracted by her in Dark Knight. I kept thinking "was there an 'expanded universe' scene set between the movies where Katie Holmes got beat in the face with a baseball bat and after some healing and plastic surgery this how she turned out?"

Probably unfair, maybe even cruel, but it's the only way I could reconcile the character being the same one as in Batman Begins. I don't know why they didn't just have her play a totally different character, it's not like whatsername is an important part of the Batman mythos. Or even part of the Batman mythos outside these movies.

[luv2draw]

Nothing I can specifically put my finger on, but I can't freakin' stand her. She needs to go away.

[Yookeroo]

I think she's attractive. But I get why others wouldn't. She's not conventionally pretty.

[GuanoLad]

If I met her in the real world, and she wasn't famous and I was somebody worth talking to, she'd excite me. She has a charisma I find compelling.

But in Hollywood terms, I can see why she doesn't ring everybody's bell.

[Windwalker]

Originally Posted by GuanoLad

If I met her in the real world, and she wasn't famous and I was somebody worth talking to, she'd excite me. She has a charisma I find compelling.

But in Hollywood terms, I can see why she doesn't ring everybody's bell.

Ditto. It's purely a gut reaction thing, but she seems like a person you could get lost in. I don't know exactly what that means, so take it how you will.

[River Hippie]

Secratary...mmmmm...