Maggie Gyllenhaal: 'The Dark Knight Got me Back to Work'

Screen siren Maggie Gyllenhaal says if it wasn't for the new Batman movie The Dark Knight, she wouldn't have gone back to work.

The actress, 30, was enjoying being a stay-at-home mum so much she was reluctant to act again. It was only when she read the part for Rachel Dawes -- which saw her replace Katie Holmes as the Assistant District Attorney -- that she changed her mind.

She explains, "It's very hard to get me away from Ramona. When The Dark Knight came along, I wasn't interested in working but I had to do this. It was just too good. Now I am so glad I did."

Gyllenhaal -- whose brother is Brokeback Mountain star Jake Gyllenhaal -- recently revealed she will be voting for her late co-star Heath Ledger to win a posthumous Oscar for his portrayal of The Joker in the movie.

She said, "In order to be a good actor you have to find a place where you are free but it's very unusual to be absolutely free in the way he was in this movie. It was so inspiring working with him, it was such a pleasure.

"In a way I feel funny thinking about Oscars when he isn't alive, but at the same time, I'm a member of the Academy and I'll vote for him."

The Dark Knight, starring Maggie; Christian Bale; Gary Oldman; Sir Michael Caine; and Aaron Eckhart, has taken in over $400 million at the domestic box office in 18 days, less than half the time it took Shrek 2 to reach that milestone, Warner Bros. Pictures said on Tuesday.