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Secretary (film)

Secretary is a 2002 American erotic romantic comedy-drama film directed by Steven Shainberg and written by Erin Cressida Wilson, based on Mary Gaitskill's 1988 short story "Secretary".

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Secretary is a 2002 American erotic romantic comedy-drama film directed by Steven Shainberg and written by Erin Cressida Wilson, based on Mary Gaitskill's 1988 short story "Secretary". It stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader and follows a troubled secretary and her demanding lawyer boss as their relationship becomes sexual and BDSM-oriented.

Plot

The film follows Lee Holloway, a young woman with a troubled personal history, who takes a secretarial job for attorney E. Edward Grey. Their professional relationship develops into a consensual sadomasochistic dynamic.

Production

Secretary was adapted from Mary Gaitskill's short story by screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson and directed by Steven Shainberg. The film was produced in the United States and released in English.

Cast

The lead roles are played by Maggie Gyllenhaal as Lee Holloway and James Spader as E. Edward Grey. Jeremy Davies also appears in a supporting role.

Reception

The film received notable critical attention for its handling of BDSM themes and unconventional romantic-comedy tone. It won a Special Jury Prize for originality at Sundance and earned a Golden Globe nomination for Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Key facts

  • The film was directed by Steven Shainberg and released in 2002.
  • It is based on Mary Gaitskill's short story "Secretary" from 1988.
  • Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Lee Holloway and James Spader plays E. Edward Grey.
  • The story centres on a secretarial job that develops into a dominant-submissive relationship.
  • The film is known for its depiction of BDSM themes within a dark romantic-comedy framework.
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Canadian context

Secretary has Canadian relevance mainly as an internationally distributed English-language film that has been available to Canadian audiences through home video and streaming platforms.

Frequently asked questions

What is Secretary?
Secretary is a 2002 American erotic romantic comedy-drama about a secretary and her lawyer employer whose relationship becomes sexually charged and BDSM-based.
Who directed Secretary?
Secretary was directed by Steven Shainberg.
What is Secretary based on?
It is based on Mary Gaitskill's 1988 short story "Secretary".
Who stars in Secretary?
The film stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader, with Jeremy Davies in a supporting role.
What awards or nominations did Secretary receive?
It won the Sundance Special Jury Prize for originality and Maggie Gyllenhaal received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_(2002_film)
    Supports: Director, year, cast, genre, and basis on Mary Gaitskill's short story
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/secretary
    Supports: Synopsis, director, producer, screenwriter, genre, release date, runtime, and rating
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Secretary-2002-film
    Supports: Film identification and basis on Mary Gaitskill's short story
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/secretary-2002
    Supports: Critical characterization of the film's treatment of sadomasochism
  5. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/60023646
    Supports: Synopsis, cast, language, rating, and genre
  6. Wikipedia (Dutch) — https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_(film)
    Supports: Sundance Special Jury Prize and Golden Globe nomination for Maggie Gyllenhaal