Maggie Gyllenhaal was told she was "too old' for a 55-year-old love interest at age 37

LOS ANGELES, May 21 (UPI) -- Maggie Gyllenhaal revealed that at 37-years-old, she was told she was too old to play a 55-year-old's lover and got turned down for a movie role.

The actress, who won a Golden Globe this year, for her part in The Honorable Woman, recently told The Wrap how she has been effected by Hollywood ageism.

"There are things that are really disappointing about being an actress in Hollywood that surprise me all the time," she said. "I'm 37 and I was told recently I was too old to play the lover of a man who was 55. It was astonishing to me. It made me feel bad, and then it made feel angry, and then it made me laugh."

Although she didn't mention which film it was for specifically, Gyllenhaal is still optimistic about powerful roles for females in the industry.

"A lot of actresses are doing incredible work right now, playing real women, complicated women. I don't feel despairing at all. And I'm more looking with hope for something fascinating," she said.

At Tuesday night's Gracie Awards, the actress gushed about Charlize Theron's role in Mad Max, telling New York Magazine "It was astonishing." Gyllenhaal also picked up Outstanding Female Actor for her performance in The Honorable Woman at the award show.