Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal has spoken to a British newspaper about how pleasantly surprised she has been whilst filming the new Batman film, �The Dark Knight�.

Gyllenhaal took over the role of Rachel Dawes, Bruce Wayne�s love interest, from Katie Holmes and has described it as an experience which has �shocked me at every turn.�

�When I started, I thought, 'Well, it's a huge movie, I'll just do my best to put what I can into it.' But, in fact, they've been really hungry for my ideas, for my views. It's great! They've been asking for more� she told the Guardian.

Gyllenhaal made her name in small independent films such as �Secretary� and �Donnie Darko� with her brother Jake (who was also rumoured for the part of Batman at one point).

Holmes was sacked from the role after Warner Bros believed her relationship with Tom Cruise detracted from the press buzz for 2005�s �Batman Begins�.