‘The Deuce’: What Pushed Maggie Gyllenhaal To Become Producer On The Show?

Aside from playing the role of sex worker-turned-aspiring director Candy on “The Deuce,” Maggie Gyllenhaal also serves as a producer on the HBO series. The show is Gyllenhaal’s first producing credit, and the actress had a very profound reason why she decided to take on the role.

“I had been interested in producing before, but really more from a development point of view to try to create projects that I could act in,” Gyllenhaal said during a Hollywood Reporter-sponsored panel at the Producers Guild of America’s Produced By Conference NY. “The motivation to be a producer on [‘The Deuce’] was to be guaranteed a spot at the table and a part of the conversation, which is what any actor wants in any successful collaborative interaction.”

The Oscar-nominated actress said that as a producer, she meets with series creators George Pelecanos and David Simon to discuss her notes prior to filming. But when it came time to film, she “had to take the producer’s hat off.”

“Part of the reason I also wanted a producing credit and to be part of the conversation is because our show is about sex workers and about sexual politics and about misogyny. I wanted to be part of that conversation,” Gyllenhaal explained. “When I was actually acting, I didn’t find that there was much of a place for that. I had to do that thinking before.”

As a producer, Gyllenhaal also makes sure that everything is well with her fellow cast members. “It’s awesome to have Maggie around on set because she can look at you and know if something is going on,” series star Dominique Fishback told Hidden Remote.”It takes the pressure off because she can mention something and stand up. It’s great to know that she’s around and she’s watching out for us. She’s not just all about Candy. She’s thinking about it all.”

“Even though she’s focused on her work, she still has an eye out on what’s going on with [the other actors] and making sure that we’re good,” Fishback, who plays Darlene on the show, said of Gyllenhaal in a recent interview with Bustle.

“The Deuce,” which ended its eight-episode Season 1 yesterday, is expected to return for Season 2 sometime next year.