Secretary (2002 film)
Updated: 12/10/2025, 5:28:29 PM Wikipedia source
Secretary is a 2002 American erotic romantic comedy-drama film directed by Steven Shainberg from a screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson, based on the 1988 short story of the same name by Mary Gaitskill. Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader, the film explores the intense relationship between a dominant lawyer and his submissive secretary, who indulge in various types of BDSM activities such as erotic spanking and petplay.
Infobox
Directed by
Steven Shainberg
Screenplay by
Erin Cressida Wilson
Story by
mw- Steven Shainberg Erin Cressida Wilson
Based on
"Secretary"by Mary Gaitskill
Produced by
Andrew Fierberg Amy Hobby Steven Shainberg
Starring
James Spader Maggie Gyllenhaal Jeremy Davies Patrick Bauchau Stephen McHattie Lesley Ann Warren
Cinematography
Steven Fierberg
Edited by
Pam Wise
Music by
Angelo Badalamenti
Productioncompanies
Double A Films The Slough Pond Company TwoPoundBag Productions
Distributed by
Lions Gate Films
Release dates
January 11, 2002 (2002-01-11) (Sundance) September 20, 2002 (2002-09-20) (United States)
Running time
107 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$4 million
Box office
$9.3 million
Tables
· Accolades
Artios Awards
Artios Awards
Award
Artios Awards
Category
Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Independent
Nominee(s)
Ellen Parks
Result
Won
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Award
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Result
Won
British Independent Film Awards
British Independent Film Awards
Award
British Independent Film Awards
Category
Best Foreign Independent Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Result
Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Most Promising Performer
Nominee(s)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (also for Adaptation and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind)
Result
Won
Chlotrudis Awards
Chlotrudis Awards
Award
Chlotrudis Awards
Category
Best Actor
Nominee(s)
James Spader
Result
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Award
Best Adapted Screenplay
Category
Erin Cressida Wilson and Steven Shainberg
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Deauville American Film Festival
Deauville American Film Festival
Award
Deauville American Film Festival
Category
Grand Prix
Nominee(s)
Steven Shainberg
Result
Nominated
Empire Awards
Empire Awards
Award
Empire Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Result
Nominated
Fantasporto
Fantasporto
Award
Fantasporto
Category
Best Actress (Directors' Week Award)
Nominee(s)
Won
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Pauline Kael Breakout Award
Nominee(s)
Won
Golden Orange for Outstanding Contribution to Film
Golden Orange for Outstanding Contribution to Film
Award
Golden Orange for Outstanding Contribution to Film
Category
Amy Hobby (also for Thirteen Conversations About One Thing)
Nominee(s)
Won
Gold Derby Awards
Gold Derby Awards
Award
Gold Derby Awards
Category
Best Breakthrough Performance
Nominee(s)
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Result
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Golden Trailer Awards
Golden Trailer Awards
Award
Golden Trailer Awards
Category
Best Romance
Nominee(s)
Won
Trashiest
Trashiest
Award
Trashiest
Category
Nominated
Gotham Independent Film Awards
Gotham Independent Film Awards
Award
Gotham Independent Film Awards
Category
Breakthrough Performer
Nominee(s)
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Result
Won
Independent Spirit Awards
Independent Spirit Awards
Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Category
Best Feature
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Female Lead
Best Female Lead
Award
Best Female Lead
Category
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best First Screenplay
Best First Screenplay
Award
Best First Screenplay
Category
Erin Cressida Wilson
Nominee(s)
Won
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
Award
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Result
Nominated
Locarno International Film Festival
Locarno International Film Festival
Award
Locarno International Film Festival
Category
Golden Leopard
Nominee(s)
Steven Shainberg
Result
Nominated
MTV Movie Awards
MTV Movie Awards
Award
MTV Movie Awards
Category
Best Breakthrough Female Performance
Nominee(s)
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Result
Nominated
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Breakthrough Performance – Female
Nominee(s)
Won
National Society of Film Critics Awards
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Award
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
2nd Place
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Award
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Category
Best Breakthrough Performance: Female
Nominee(s)
Won
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Award
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Breakthrough Performance
Best Breakthrough Performance
Award
Best Breakthrough Performance
Category
Won
Paris Film Festival
Paris Film Festival
Award
Paris Film Festival
Category
Grand Prix
Nominee(s)
Steven Shainberg
Result
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Nominee(s)
Won
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Category
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Newcomer
Best Newcomer
Award
Best Newcomer
Category
Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
Award
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Satellite Awards
Satellite Awards
Award
Satellite Awards
Category
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
Award
Sundance Film Festival
Category
Grand Jury Prize – Dramatic
Nominee(s)
Steven Shainberg
Result
Nominated
Special Jury Prize – Originality
Special Jury Prize – Originality
Award
Special Jury Prize – Originality
Category
Won
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Result
Runner-up
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Village Voice Film Poll
Village Voice Film Poll
Award
Village Voice Film Poll
Category
Best Lead Performance
Nominee(s)
6th Place
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Runner-up
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Artios Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Independent | Ellen Parks | Won |
| Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Won |
| British Independent Film Awards | Best Foreign Independent Film | Nominated | |
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Won |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Performer | Maggie Gyllenhaal (also for Adaptation and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) | Won |
| Chlotrudis Awards | Best Actor | James Spader | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Nominated | |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Erin Cressida Wilson and Steven Shainberg | Nominated | |
| Deauville American Film Festival | Grand Prix | Steven Shainberg | Nominated |
| Empire Awards | Best Actress | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Nominated |
| Fantasporto | Best Actress (Directors' Week Award) | Won | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Pauline Kael Breakout Award | Won | |
| Golden Orange for Outstanding Contribution to Film | Amy Hobby (also for Thirteen Conversations About One Thing) | Won | |
| Gold Derby Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| Golden Trailer Awards | Best Romance | Won | |
| Trashiest | Nominated | ||
| Gotham Independent Film Awards | Breakthrough Performer | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Won |
| Independent Spirit Awards | Best Feature | Nominated | |
| Best Female Lead | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Nominated | |
| Best First Screenplay | Erin Cressida Wilson | Won | |
| Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards | Best Actress | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Nominated |
| Locarno International Film Festival | Golden Leopard | Steven Shainberg | Nominated |
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Breakthrough Female Performance | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Nominated |
| National Board of Review Awards | Breakthrough Performance – Female | Won | |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | 2nd Place | |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance: Female | Won | |
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Won | ||
| Paris Film Festival | Grand Prix | Steven Shainberg | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Won | |
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Nominated | |
| Best Newcomer | Nominated | ||
| San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| Sundance Film Festival | Grand Jury Prize – Dramatic | Steven Shainberg | Nominated |
| Special Jury Prize – Originality | Won | ||
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Runner-up |
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
| Village Voice Film Poll | Best Lead Performance | 6th Place | |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | Runner-up | |
References
- For consistent excellence and adventurousness in film production.
- Tied with Nia Vardalos for My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-20-et-dargis20-story.html
- AFI Catalog of Feature Filmshttps://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/62551?cxt=filmography
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Secretary#tab=summary
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0274812/
- Bad Behavior
- The Johns Hopkins News-Letterhttps://www.jhunewsletter.com/article/2002/10/secretary-leaves-movie-goers-bent-over-desks-61118
- Shainberg, Steven (2004), audio commentary to Secretary.
- Shainberg, Steven, Andrew Fierberg, Amy Hobby, Erin Cressida Wilson, James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeremy Davies, et
- John Calhoun. (2002, October). Spank You Very Much. Entertainment Design, 36(10), 8-10. Retrieved April 1, 2011, from Re
- Film Oblivionhttps://filmoblivion.com/2022/11/05/secretary-2002/
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2002/09/review-not-your-average-secretary-shainbergs-sm-swooner-gets-the-job-done-80208/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2002/film/news/lions-gate-promotes-shainberg-s-secretary-1117860577/
- Mubihttps://mubi.com/films/secretary/awards
- The Globe and Mailhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/james-spader-assumes-the-position/article4139277/
- Billboardhttps://books.google.com/books?id=fw8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA69
- Secretaryhttps://www.allmovie.com/movie/secretary-v261189/releases
- High Def Digesthttps://bluray.highdefdigest.com/3739/secretary.html
- Secretary at Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/secretary
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/secretary/
- Chicago Sun-Timeshttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/secretary-2002
- Ain't It Cool Newshttp://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/13237
- SheKnowshttps://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1070957/ways-fifty-shades-is-a-ripped-off-version-of-secretary/
- "Watching Secretary 20 Years Later, Post-#MeToo"https://lithub.com/watching-secretary-20-years-later-post-metoo/
- "For a Movie that Wants to Depict Fringe, 'Secretary' is Surprisingly Didactic » PopMatters"https://www.popmatters.com/132536-secretary-2496120173.html
- "2003 Artios Awards"https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2003
- "BSFC Winners: 2000s"https://bostonfilmcritics.org/past-winners-2000s/
- "2003 BIFA Winners and Nominations"https://www.bifa.film/awards/2003/winners-nominations/
- "Awards 2002"https://cofca.org/awards-2002/
- "1988-2013 Award Winner Archives"https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/archives
- Chlotrudis Society for Independent Filmhttps://chlotrudis.org/awards/past-awards/2003-9th-annual-awards/
- "2002 FFCC Award Winners"http://www.floridafilmcritics.com/2013/11/16/2002-ffcc-award-winners/
- Gold Derbyhttps://www.goldderby.com/2002-goldderby-film-awards/
- "Secretary – Golden Globes"https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/secretary
- "Past Recipients"https://awards.thegotham.org/past-recipients/
- "36 Years of Nominees and Winners"https://s3.amazonaws.com/SA_SubForm_etc/2021_SA_ALLNomineesWinners_063021.pdf
- "Previous Sierra Award Winners"http://www.lvfcs.org/sierra-award-winners.html
- "2002 Award Winners"https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/2002/
- "Past Awards"https://nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/about-2/
- Online Film & Television Associationhttp://www.oftaawards.com/film-awards/7th-annual-film-awards-2002/
- Online Film Critics Societyhttps://ofcs.org/awards/2002-awards-6th-annual/
- "International Press Academy website – 2003 7th Annual SATELLITE Awards"https://web.archive.org/web/20080201175700/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2003.shtml
- "2002 Sundance Film Festival"http://history.sundance.org/events/37
- "TFCA Awards 2002"https://web.archive.org/web/20101107043136/http://torontofilmcritics.com/blog/2002/12/21/tfca-awards-2002
- "3rd Annual VFCC Award Winners"https://vancouverfilmcritics.com/2003/01/30/3rd-annual-award-winners/
- Mubihttps://mubi.com/awards-and-festivals/village-voice?year=2002
- "2002 WAFCA Awards"http://www.wafca.com/awards/2002.htm
- Secretaryhttps://www.allmusic.com/album/secretary-music-from-the-motion-picture--mw0000663015
- The Pitt Newshttps://pittnews.com/article/31027/archives/largely-overlooked-songstress-steers-a-mean-chariot/