Maggie Gyllenhaal - Gyllenhaal 'Failed' As A Parent

MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL was convinced she had "failed" as a parent when she was forced to hire a nanny to help look after her daughter.

The actress welcomed her first child, daughter Ramona, with husband Peter Sarsgaard in 2006, and the Secretary star was determined to raise the youngster without any professional help.

But Gyllenhaal was recently forced to admit defeat and hire a childminder after her gruelling work schedule and busy home life became too much for her, and she's now convinced hiring a nanny was the best decision she has ever made.

She tells Fox News, "When my daughter was first born I kept saying 'I don't need anybody, I'm just going to do this by myself.' I thought I could make a home, be a good wife, and do all these things. I thought 'I'm just going to call my mom.'

"But I have since realised that wasn't realistic for me... It's okay not to be able to do everything all the time, to fail as a parent sometimes. Now I have a wonderful nanny. I am somebody who spends every possible minute I can with my daughter - I really believe that's important, but I do need help... I found a lovely, lovely nanny for my daughter - I just thank God for her."