Get yourself someone who speaks of you as highly as Jake Gyllenhaal does of his exes.
Gyllenhaal is a certified heartthrob and yet, he’s also simultaneously a complete gentleman, something which is evident in his chivalrous manner and the way he addresses his past romances with the utmost respect. Irrespective of whether or not his relationship ended on amicable terms, the Nightcrawler star has always made it a point to be polite and affectionate while talking about his exes. Take Reese Witherspoon for instance.
Gyllenhaal dated the Legally Blonde actress for two years, after which the pair ended up parting ways. Their decision to split, sources claimed, was not a mutual one, with Witherspoon apparently being the one who broke it off. Despite that though, the Zodiac actor remained magnanimous and only ever had good things to say about his ex-girlfriend.
Jake Gyllenhaal on His Ex, Reese Witherspoon
Jake Gyllenhaal first took a penchant for the Cruel Intentions star in 2006 on the set of Gavin Hood’s Rendition. While the two didn’t share the screen together, there was definitely some chemistry present which slowly but gradually bloomed into a full-fledged romance.
Soon the two started to date each other in 2007 and their relationship lasted till the better part of 2009. But things started to turn sordidly complicated, which is why they ended up going their own ways toward the end of that year. Even so, the MCU actor had nothing but immense respect and admiration for Reese Witherspoon. In an episode of The Jess Cagle Interview, Gyllenhaal, 42, remarked how the Academy Award-winning actress was one of the “smartest” and “strongest” people he’d encountered.
“She is, as I would say about most of the women who I’m close friends with or had relationships in my life, one of the smartest, strongest people I’ve ever met.”
Considering how the ex-couple reportedly didn’t end their two-year-long romance on the best terms, it’s sweet to see Gyllenhaal talk so highly of the Big Little Lies actress. Not to mention, Witherspoon had apparently broken up with the Ambulance star for the reason that he could be “a little overbearing at times”. And yet, the man still continues to hold her in high regard.
The Alleged Reason Behind Jake Gyllenhaal And Reese Witherspoon’s Split
When Gyllenhaal and Witherspoon started to go out around 2007, the latter had just freshly broken up with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe not too long ago, albeit their divorce got finalized in 2008. That’s also why the Pleasantville star was treading into a new relationship with Gyllenhaal a little gingerly. So, when the latter apparently wanted to marry her a year or so into their relationship, Witherspoon got cold feet.
“Jake would marry her tomorrow, but Reese doesn’t want to go there yet, even though he would like to,” a source close to both of them revealed to PEOPLE around the time of their split. The insider further mentioned how there was tons of attraction and stellar chemistry between the two, but Witherspoon didn’t want to rush into a marriage with the Love & Other Drugs star. “Jake can be a little overbearing at times, and Reese is really happy with life right now,” the source stated.
Witherspoon’s children, Ava and Deacon, whom she welcomed with her ex-husband, Phillippe, were apparently also “not ready for that, at least as far as Jake.”
The Your Place or Mine actress recently called it quits with Jim Toth after over a decade-long marriage. Meanwhile, Gyllenhaal started dating 26-year-old French model, Jeanne Cadieu during the latter part of 2018 and the couple is still going strong as ever.
Both Gyllenhaal and Witherspoon remain on amiable terms at present.
Source: PEOPLE
