Emotional Jake Gyllenhaal Brought Kirsten Dunst Heartbreak to Brokeback Set  1/28/06

Jake Gyllenhaal owes his acclaimed performance in new gay western Brokeback Mountain to his break-up with Kirsten Dunst and his hatred for co-star Heath Ledger. The actor admits he was an emotional mess while he made the Ang Lee movie, but, rather than put his feelings to one side, he decided to bring them to the set - and he's convinced it made him a better actor. 

He explains, "I made a pact with myself on this movie... I was going to try and show up and be as present as I could and (show) how I was feeling about what was going on in my life. "There were days we (Heath and I) didn't get along and we had to get along... you have cranky days. And we brought that into the scene with us. "I think that that adds to the complexity. I think if you're not alive and feeling what you're feeling and letting yourself feel whatever it is, then it (acting) gets to be bland."