Cast by Daniele Carettoni of Espresso Productions as L’Officiel Hommes Italia’s latest leading man, Jake Gyllenhaal, covers the fashion magazine. Photographed by Matthew Brookes, Gyllenhaal radiates charisma in Zegna’s relaxed tailoring.
Stylist Michael Fisher complements Gyllenhaal’s rugged allure, while grooming artist Kumi Craig ensures his appearance is the epitome of refined masculinity.
Jake Gyllenhaal for L’Officiel Hommes Italia
Gyllenhaal immerses himself in the physical demands of his role in Road House, guided by director Doug Liman, embodying a disciplined spirit honed by mixed martial arts. “This is one of the best parts of my job: learning from experts and gaining knowledge in something I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to do,” shares Gyllenhaal in a translated quote.
Connecting with L’Officiel Hommes Italia, Gyllenhaal’s reflections are a mosaic of experiences, cherishing the profound connection with Denis Villeneuve and the knowledge gained from each director he has worked with.
Gyllenhaal explains, “Denis and I have a special bond and are constantly in contact. Over the years, directors have been closer to me regarding age, and I think that makes a difference. But again, I really love all the directors I’ve worked with.”
Gyllenhaal’s commitment to storytelling is evident in his thorough role preparation, from script analysis to creative collaboration. “Each role is different and requires different preparation, but we still start from the script,” says Gyllenhaal.
Gyllenhaal notes at the start of a project, “I often dig into the script and try to find clues or inspirations that come to me as if by chance. When I made Nightcrawler, I read and reread the script and kept thinking about coyotes in Los Angeles prowling the hills.”
The 43-year-old actor concludes, “I grew up there and saw so many coyotes hunting at night, and somehow, it was a sight I couldn’t shake. So I used the idea and built the character around it.”
Beyond acting, Gyllenhaal’s children’s book, The Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles, highlights his creative spirit. Gyllenhaal writes for his nieces, “I wanted them to have something concrete to know how much they mean to me. I also had a lot of fun writing it with my best friend.”
On the idea of a follow-up, Gyllenhaal exclaims, “I’d love to write another one. Children’s books are perhaps one of the most difficult forms of storytelling: maintaining clarity and depth with few words is not easy!”