Maggie Gyllenhaal, star of HBO's "The Deuce," joined Salon's D. Watkins to talk about her new Netflix film "The Kindergarten Teacher," and the common thread between many of her recent roles- "starving" women who are after something much more than the obvious paths that their lives present.

"I like it when the art I make, in general, just challenges things," Gyllenhaal said. "I like playing a kindergarten teacher that's all f**ked up. I like playing a porn director who totally has her eye on the prize and is clear and amazing. I love that those two things are out at the same time."

In "The Kindergarten Teacher," out October 12, Gyllenhaal plays Lisa, an educator who develops an obsession with one of her students, five-year-old Jimmy, who she believes is a poetry prodigy. Lisa takes extreme, desperate attempts to nurture his talent, regardless of the wild consequences at stake.

Watch Salon's full interview with Gyllenhaal to hear more about her role and her take on the #MeToo and Time's Up movements.