(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Jake Gyllenhaal loves having the chance to "tell stories that [he] cares about".

The 30-year-old Hollywood actor has enjoyed a varied and successful film career, appearing in pictures such as cult hit Donnie Darko and romantic drama Brokeback Mountain.

Jake thinks the best thing about his job is having the opportunity to explore unique and complex characters.

"I'm in the business of playing characters. That's what I'm in," he told OK! magazine.

"That's what I want to try and do. The ability to tell stories that you care about, it does give you a great opportunity to do that."

Jake and his actress sister Maggie grew up in an artistic household. Their father Stephen is a successful moviemaker and mom Naomi Foner a top screenwriter. Naomi and Stephen enjoyed 32 years of marriage before divorcing in 2009, with the latter recently embarking on his second nuptials. Despite the glamorous sounding upbringing, Jake insists that wasn't the case.

"I didn't grow up in a Hollywood way. I grew up in a family of people who made movies - and continue to do so to this day," he added. (C) Cover Media