Jake Gyllenhaal opens up about wanting to be a dad

LOS ANGELES, July 14 (UPI) -- Jake Gyllenhaal wants to be a dad.

The Southpaw actor talked to Entertainment Tonight about his lead role in the upcoming boxing drama, where he plays a fighter hoping to make up for his past faults and win back esteem in the eyes of his daughter.

While discussing the film, and the relationship between his character and his daughter played by actress Oona Laurence, the 34-year-old star opened up about how desire to be a dad.

"I am not a father yet, but it is definitely a dream of mine, should I be lucky to have that to happen," Gyllenhall said.

"I have nieces who I love deeply and I have children in my life I love deeply, but when I meet Oona for the first time, I just fell for her," he continued. "Your heart opens up to her."

Gyllenhaal went on to discuss how working with Laurence helped him develop his character throughout the film and how he allowed with the young actress to guide his performance.

He even recounted how Laurence would make the initial decision that would dictate his response. "She would make choices, I would just follow her in an improv, and that's the dynamic," he said.

Southpaw opens in theaters July 24.

The actor has also been seen training for his role as boxer Billy "The Great" Hope, packing on muscle and engaging in intense training sessions to preparer for his boxing scenes, The Hollywood Reporter said. He admitted to having no prior knowledge of boxing when he took the role.

"I knew that in order for me to pull it off in any way, I was just gonna have to learn how to do it — and when I set my mind to something, I just won't stop until I do it," Gyllenhaal said.