Vault: Jake Gyllenhaal Joins The Show

Summary

The Bert Show: Vault – Jake Gyllenhaal Joins The Show

Date: January 22, 2026
Host: The Bert Show Cast
Featured Guest: Jake Gyllenhaal

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Overview

This lively episode of The Bert Show spotlights a candid conversation with actor Jake Gyllenhaal during his promotion of the film Jarhead. The hosts take Jake through a mix of film career analysis, rumors about his relationship with Kirsten Dunst, and plenty of light-hearted off-topic banter—showcasing both the charm of the show and their guest. With characteristic authenticity, the hosts probe into career choices, personal life, and even head size, delivering laughs and thoughtful moments throughout.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jake Gyllenhaal’s Career Choices and Approach to Roles

• Preference for Indie Films Over Blockbusters

  • Jake shares why independent roles have drawn him in:
    • “They're just for me. They were just the best ones, you know, really... ones where I could, like, stretch myself and push myself.” (01:53, Jake)
    • He embraces both indie and blockbuster films, emphasizing it's not about salary but artistic satisfaction. (02:18–02:51)

• Blockbuster Ambitions and Enjoyment

  • Loves the spectacle and excitement of big-budget movies, like The Day After Tomorrow:
    • “I like running away from things, so you know, I like them both.” (02:37, Jake)

• Notable Roles He Didn’t Get

  • Close to starring in Moulin Rouge!:
    • “I really would have liked to do Moulin Rouge... me, Heath and Ewan McGregor up for that role.” (03:05, Jake)
    • Shares a personal story of friendship with Heath Ledger stemming from auditioning for the same part.

“Brokeback Mountain” and Navigating Cultural Stigmas

• Motivation for Taking the Role
  • Jake addresses media and community reaction candidly:
    • “The thing about that film is I think it has a stigma on it already as being sort of the gay cowboy movie. And I think it's much more than that.” (03:42, Jake)
    • He reiterates no one tried to dissuade him from the part, celebrating the story’s impact and significance. (03:42–04:13)

The Kirsten Dunst Relationship Rumors

• Tabloid Frenzy and Non-Commital Answers

  • The hosts press Jake about his on-and-off relationship with actress Kirsten Dunst. Jake remains playful but protective:
    • “She's such an amazing, amazing girl and is always in my life no matter what.” (04:30, Jake)
    • Multiple attempts to get a definitive answer are rebuffed:
      • “I'll let you know next time.” (05:52, Jake)

• Advice to Young Actors About Dating

  • Jake recommends following genuine feelings, but cautions:
    • “It's usually better to date maybe outside, I would say.” (05:46, Jake)

On “Jarhead” and Its Unique War Story

• What Makes Jarhead Different

  • Explains it isn’t a typical war movie:
    • “There was a lot of waiting around and... experiences... besides the combat action.” (06:14, Jake)
    • Calls it “pretty true to life” for the Gulf War—more introspective than action-based.

• Memorable Analogy about the Film

  • Jake gives a striking comparison:
    • “I liken the movie to, like, really great sex without an orgasm.” (07:17, Jake)
    • The hosts react in typical Bert Show fashion.

Light-Hearted Moments & Running Gags

• Big Head Bantz
  • Comparison of head sizes with host Jeff Dollar erupts into jokes about fitted hats and car covers:
    • “You know, I just go to the store... and I'm just like, give me the biggest thing you got.” (09:12, Jake)
    • “You can put a car cover on me, and it looks like a Yamaha, dude.” (09:34, host)
• Host-Jake Chemistry
  • Frequent playful prodding about relationships (“Are you dating Kirsten Dunst?”) creates running comedy through the episode.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 01:53 | Jake | “They're just for me. They were just the best ones, you know, really... where I could, like, stretch myself and push myself.” | | 02:37 | Jake | “I like running away from things, so you know, I like them both.” | | 03:05 | Jake | “I really would have liked to do Moulin Rouge! ...me, Heath and Ewan McGregor up for that role.” | | 03:42 | Jake | “The thing about that film is I think it has a stigma on it already as being sort of the gay cowboy movie. And I think it's much more than that.” | | 04:30 | Jake | “She's such an amazing, amazing girl and is always in my life no matter what.” | | 05:46 | Jake | “It's usually better to date maybe outside, I would say.” | | 07:17 | Jake | “I liken the movie to, like, really great sex without an orgasm.” | | 09:12 | Jake | “You know, I just go to the store... and I'm just like, give me the biggest thing you got.” |

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 01:20: Introduction and rundown of Jake’s career
• 01:21 – 03:20: Jake on indie vs. blockbuster films, roles he missed out on
• 03:21 – 04:13: Conversation about Brokeback Mountain and public perception
• 04:14 – 05:52: Pressing on Kirsten Dunst rumors, Jake’s relationship philosophy
• 06:02 – 07:34: All about Jarhead—the story, expectations, and Jake’s unusual analogy
• 07:35 – 09:41: Lighthearted banter about head sizes and hat shopping

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Tone & Atmosphere

• The interview is relaxed, playful, and peppered with the Bert Show’s signature humor.
• Jake Gyllenhaal is personable, open, and quick-witted, deftly balancing honest answers with on-brand ambiguity—especially about his love life.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

If you’re looking for insights into Jake Gyllenhaal’s mindset as an actor, a wry candid take on old Hollywood rumors, and a hearty dose of morning show mischief, this episode is a treat. Though the hosts repeatedly try to pry into Jake’s personal life, he remains gracious, sharing thoughtful reflections on his career, motivations, and latest projects, while matching the cast’s banter step-for-step.

Transcript

[A]

You're on the Burt Show. Jake Gyllenhaal, we were just going through his resume and it's like, hasn't been in that many big, big movies, but people are nuts about this guy.

[B]

No big blockbuster. I think he got a lot of attention because of Donnie Darko, which was kind of like a dark cult type film. And then he was with Jennifer Aniston in the Good Girl, which got him a more critical acclaim.

[C]

But in Proof with Anthony Hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow, which was another one that didn't end up being a huge blockbuster but was with some big time stars. So he's aligned himself the right people.

[A]

I think he's, he may be more known by who he dates than the movies that he's in. And we tried because the rumor here is that he and Kirsten Dunst have this kind of like on again, off again relationship. She goes out, dates somebody else for a second and comes back to him. So it's really kind of up in the air. We don't have real commitment. Right on if they're dating or not.

[B]

No.

[C]

He sort of gives us a little, little nugget.

[D]

We try.

[A]

Oh, did we try?

[E]

Was it for lack of effort?

[A]

Yeah, we really tried. Well, he was on on Friday and he was promoting Jarhead, which I didn't get to see over the weekend and the movie didn't do that great over the weekend.

[C]

Came in fifth place.

[A]

Fifth place.

[C]

So not horrible. I mean, especially when it's out at this, you know, big time for Chicken Little, which is, you know, anytime a kid flick is out, then that's going to take the number one spot. But. But yeah, it didn't do as well as they had hoped.

[A]

I'm sure he was fun though. He had a lot of fun with us. Seems like a cool guy. This is Jake Gyllenhaal on the Burt show. All the hits. Q100. Jake Gyllenhaal now joins us. Good morning, Jake. Let me introduce you to everybody on the show. My name is Bert.

[D]

Hey, Bert. Jake.

[A]

This is Melissa.

[B]

Hey, Jake.

[D]

Hey, Melissa.

[A]

Jeff$ hey, Jeff.

[E]

We go way back.

[D]

Where's Jen?

[E]

Jen.

[C]

Hey.

[D]

Hey, what's up?

[C]

Jake, you've done more indie projects than any big blockbusters and that sort of made you this young, hot Hollywood commodity. Was that on purpose? Why'd you choose those scripts?

[D]

They're just for me. They were just the best ones, you know, really. They're like the ones where I got a lot of stuff to play. You know, they happen to be kind of weird. Deranged characters, but they were. They were the ones where I could like, kind of stretch myself and push myself, so it was inevitable I'd do those. And the other ones, you know, I eventually got to those because they were fun. I've always wanted to do blockbuster movies and stuff, but the other ones are more for the acting.

[A]

If there was a salary cap on movie making and you made the same amount of money for these big ones or these small ones, which one would.

[D]

You choose to do, you know, both of them. I love watching. I mean, I love going in the summertime and watching those big movies. And I have fun making them too. I mean, there's a whole different atmosphere. You know, instead of like a ton of dramatic acting, you're running away from things. Like I did the Day After Tomorrow. I like running away from things, so, you know, I like them both. I wouldn't mind. It's not a question. It really isn't a question of salary for me.

[C]

What big time role have you turned down already?

[D]

There are roles I haven't gotten, but I haven't really turned down that many. I really would have liked to do Moulin Rouge, you know, that movie.

[B]

Really?

[D]

Yeah, yeah, I was really close, actually. I just did a movie with Heath Ledger and it was me, heath and Ewan McGregor up for that role. And Heath and I became friends and we didn't get the role out of jealousy. And then we made a movie together later on.

[B]

Now, Jake, I was about to ask you about Brokeback Mountain because I am a lesbian. Part of the gay community. The gay community, of course, with you and Heath Ledger in the movie, are very excited about that. And you just talked about how you took these independent roles and then you became a blockbuster, you know, celebrity, but you still decided to do Brokeback Mountain. And I'm wondering, did anyone discourage you from taking that role now that you are a bigger name?

[D]

No. Actually, maybe naively, but no, nobody did. I mean, the thing is, is that the thing about that film is I think it has a stigma on it already as being sort of the gay cowboy movie. And I think it's much more than that. And I think you only know that until you see it. And I know that there'll be people who have problems with it, and I know there are people who will support it more than anything they've ever supported, you know, so it's gonna be. It's gonna be split here and there, but nobody warned me against it. It's an amazing story. And I think everybody around me and.

[B]

And knew that so the tabloids are.

[C]

All talking about your relationship with Kirsten Dunst. On again, off again.

[B]

No.

[A]

Yes, they are. Yes, I know you don't read them. No celebrity does.

[C]

Can you tell us what should we believe?

[D]

What should you believe? You know what? All I can tell you is that she's such an amazing, amazing girl and is always in my life no matter what.

[A]

Come on, Jake, you gotta throw us a bone. Give us some scoop. I mean, we've got no ratings. If you throw us a little bone and you define your relationship with her, we'll get in the local paper, we'll get some national notoriety and we could really use that. Will you throw us a freaking bone?

[D]

Yeah, maybe, you know, we get to know each other a little better maybe.

[A]

Okay, how long is that gonna take? Like six 60 seconds.

[E]

Are we gonna be close in the next minute and a half?

[D]

We'll see by the end. We'.

[A]

Would you like if you, if a younger actor was on the set with you? Okay. And this is his first big movie and he's starting to get attracted to another woman on the set that he's starring with. I mean, we know a little bit of the history here. So would you advise that up and comer to date within the celebrity world or outside of it?

[D]

I would probably. I would probably advise them to date whoever they had real feelings for. You know, I mean, if it, you know, you can never really tell, but it's usually better to date maybe outside, I would say.

[A]

So my follow up question to that is, are you going out with Kirsten Dunst?

[D]

You know what? I feel like we really know each other now. Like really. So now. I'll let you know next time.

[A]

Well, obviously we gotta talk about Jarhead also. Tell us a little bit about it because I think that people are expecting this to be like some kind of bloody, bloody war movie. And from what I understand, it's not like that.

[D]

Well, for anybody, I think, who went through or experienced the first Gulf War, there are a lot of things that people who didn't fight in it don't know, which is that there was a lot of waiting around and a lot of experiences that happened besides the combat action that people, the soldiers experienced. And this is the experience of one Marine in the first Persian Gulf War and he and his platoon and what happens amongst all of them. And it's based on a book by Anthony Swafford, who was a Marine and a scout sniper. And it's sort of pretty true to life, but it's not what you expect. No, it's not shoot him up at all. Even though you, by the end of the movie, you kind of want them to.

[A]

And it's more of an introspection, like a bunch of guys talking about the situation there and rather than actually on the front line stuff.

[D]

Correct. Well, you know, there is a lot. There is some action here and there. I mean, there. And there's a lot of. I mean, to me, I liken the movie to, like, really great sex without an orgasm.

[A]

That's not. That's an oxymoron, isn't it?

[D]

Yeah, well, maybe for some people, Trick, you know, it's a really entertaining movie, even though they are waiting around.

[E]

Now that you've shared with us your philosophy on orgasms, are you dating Kristen Dunn?

[A]

Are you in love with her?

[C]

They could say no because you said Kristen, not Kirsten.

[E]

Oh, Kirsten.

[D]

Yeah, man, that's not good.

[C]

All right. Speaking of Jarhead, I know this is sort of like a random connection to the title of the movie, but I.

[D]

Read somewhere, Are you dating Kirsten Dunn?

[C]

I read somewhere that you. You have an odd similarity to our own Jeff Dollar, that you have an irregularly large head and you have to order extra large size hats.

[D]

Is that true? I have an abnormally sized head.

[A]

Really, Jeff?

[B]

Look, you and Jake have something in common.

[A]

Have you ever weighed yours? Because we actually weighed Jeff's one time and what was it, like £18 or something?

[E]

No, like 46.

[A]

Yeah, it's huge. It's scary.

[E]

There's been times, Jake, where I've nodded and had to run a few.

[A]

Is taking Dramamine.

[E]

But you know what? Given that information, I definitely have not dated Kirsten Dunst.

[D]

Oh.

[E]

Even though I have a big head.

[D]

That's too bad.

[A]

Just a little. We just need a little notoriety. Just a yes or no. Do you love Kirsten Dunst?

[D]

She's a great girl, damn it.

[E]

Good luck with that. Good luck with Jarhead.

[A]

Yeah, man. Seriously, it looks like a great movie. I think I'd really like to go see it on Sunday. So thank you for spending some time with us. And good luck with it.

[D]

Thank you guys so much. Yeah, go see it. It is a really, really, really great movie. So I'm very proud of it.

[E]

And totally. Seriously, where do you find big hats?

[D]

You know, I just go to the store, you know those, like, fitted baseball cap stores, and I'm just like, give me the biggest thing you got.

[E]

I've done that, and it's still embarrassingly small.

[D]

They don't take you in the back and they're like, here you go. And they all. Like the. The ones that are all defaulted. They don't give you those ones. This one was a mistake, but it'll probably fit your head.

[E]

You can put a car cover on me, and it looks like a Yamaha, dude.

[A]

Jake Gyllenhaal. Good talking to you. Good luck.

[D]

Thanks, guys.

[A]

You're on the Birch Show.