Jake Gyllenhaal was devastated when his parents made him turn down a lead role in The Mighty Ducks. Jake Gyllenhaal at age 11, made his  big break in 1991's City Slickers, where the actor played the role of Billy Crystal's son.

It was circa 1992 when Disney offered Jake Gyllenhaal to play as Charlie Conway in the hockey comedy film, as the role meant that Jake Gyllenhaal will be missing school, his mom and dad refused the deal. Charlie Conway in The Mighty Ducks character was ultimately played by Joshua Jackson (future Dawson's Creek star).

The Southpaw star Jake Gyllenhaal said, "I definitely remember crying on the kitchen counter," Jake Gyllenhaal also said, "But my parents were like, 'Look, you're about to enter junior high school, you gotta get your education, that's the most important thing. I promise you, you hate us now, but you'll thank us later.' And I do."

Recalling his past, Gyllenhaal said that he appreciated the few years he spent being a normal kid. Jake Gyllenhaal worries about other child actors nowadays, just like 12-year-old Oona Laurence, co-star of Gyllenhaal in Southpaw, and plays his daughter in the movie. Gyllenhaal wants Oona Laurence to have a normal life, Gyllenhaal also wants Oona Laurence a space with her family and her friends.

Even Jake Gyllenhaal doesn't particularly care about winning accolades, the actor said, awards season is one of the many weird things about being in the movie industry.

Jake Gyllenhaal stated, "I remember actually I was so nervous before that I had gone on a hike with my dog and I got poison ivy all over my arms. So I'm sitting there (at the Oscars), scratching my arms."

But Gyllenhaal didn't prepare a speech, as he assumed he would lose to George Clooney for Syriana, however, Gyllenhaal did rehearse his losing face for when the award was announced. Jake Gyllenhaal added, "Oh, absolutely. You practice it in the mirror," "My publicist, she's like, 'No, smile a little less, a little less, a little more sincere...'