Secretary (2002): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Secretary is a 2002 comedy drama directed by Steven Shainberg, starring James Spader. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $9.3 million worldwide. It won 2 awards from 5 nominations, including Best First Screenplay at the Spirit Awards 2003. Critics gave it 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- Steven Shainberg
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Lions Gate Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Secretary About?
The premise of Secretary without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A deeply repressed secretary, Lee Holloway, seeks therapy but finds herself drawn to an unconventional arrangement with her enigmatic employer, attorney E. Edward Grey. As Lee confronts issues from her past, she develops a complex and twisted attraction to Grey, whose strict and demanding nature challenges her and leads to a blurring of professional and personal boundaries. Their relationship explores themes of control, submission, and the search for connection in unexpected places.
Secretary Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- secretary
- bdsm
- submissive woman
- sexual role playing
- pantyhose
- sexual submission
- male masturbation
- sexual tension
- cruel boss
- office
- masochist
- sexual submissiveness
+38 more Show fewer
- sadistic sex
- sex in the woods
- sexual rejection
- sexual frustration
- sex scene
- bending over on desk
- sexual harassment
- obsession
- self cutting
- sexual exploration
- sex game
- sexual dominance
- sexual discovery
- sex with secretary
- unconventional romance
- sexual fantasy
- sexual attraction
- masturbation
- spanking
- female pubic hair
- female full frontal nudity
- no panties
- female frontal nudity
- voyeur
- voyeurism
- boss secretary relationship
- hospital
- bikini
- perseverance
- dating
- sex standing up
- romantic rejection
- rejection
- shame
- woman slaps a man
- marriage proposal
- pulling up panties
- lift skirt
Secretary Cast
James Spader stars in Secretary. Directed by Steven Shainberg.
- Director Steven Shainberg
More from Steven Shainberg
More films directed by Steven Shainberg, best-rated first: Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus, Rupture, Hit Me and Angela & Viril.
Secretary Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Secretary 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
-
IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 63 Metascore
User score 6.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB
Secretary Plot Summary
What happens in Secretary from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Lee Holloway, portrayed by [Maggie Gyllenhaal], is the youngest daughter in a dysfunctional family, struggling with her socially awkward and emotionally sensitive nature. Following a troubling incident of self-harm that lands her in the hospital, Lee strives to reintegrate into everyday life. She takes typing lessons, begins dating an acquaintance from high school named Peter, and manages to secure a job as a secretary for the notably eccentric attorney, E. Edward Grey. Despite her unpolished demeanor and the fact that she is far overqualified for the position, Edward hires her, insisting that the work is tedious and devoid of modern conveniences like computers. Lee assures him that she can handle the job as it is.
Full summary
The whole story of Secretary, scene by scene
Secretary Box Office
Secretary grossed $9.3 million worldwide. $4.1 million came from the US and Canada and $5.2 million (56%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$9.3M
- US & Canada
- $4.1M
- International
- $5.2M
Secretary Awards & Nominations
Secretary won 2 awards from 5 nominations, including Best First Screenplay at the Spirit Awards 2003. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 2003, with 1 win from 3 nominations.
2 wins5 nominations3 ceremonies
-
Spirit Awards 2003 1 win · 3 nominations- Won Best First Screenplay
- Nominated Best Feature
- Nominated Best Female Lead – Maggie Gyllenhaal
-
Golden Globes 2003 1 nomination- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Actress) – Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Spirit Awards 2002 1 win · 1 nomination
- Won Best First Screenplay
Secretary Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Secretary.
How Well Do You Know Secretary?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What emotional struggle does Lee Holloway face at the beginning of the film?
Cars in Secretary
12 cars on screen, including the 1984 Chevrolet Celebrity and the 1987 Pontiac Bonneville.
-
1984 Chevrolet Celebrity Important role -
1987 Pontiac Bonneville Important role -
Cadillac Stretched Limousine Minor role -
1992 Chevrolet Caprice Minor role
Secretary Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Secretary - Womit kann ich dienen?” and “风流老板俏秘书”.
- Also known as
-
- Secretary - Womit kann ich dienen?
- 风流老板俏秘书
- 세크러테리
- La secretaria
- Secretary 1 - Womit kann ich dienen
- Секретарша
- Sekreter
- La Secrétaire
- Secretária
- 秘书
- Sekretářka
- A titkárnő
+14 more Show fewer
- Sekretarka
- Secretara
- 세크리터리
- המזכירה
- Секретарка
- Секретарката
- Sekretárka
- Sekretorė
- منشی
- Nữ Thư Ký
- 怪ㄎㄚ情緣
- Sihteeri
- セクレタリー
- Sekretär
Seen Secretary?
Movies Like Secretary
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Secretary, My Dear Secretary and Secretary Rope Discipline.
Secretary FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Secretary, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Secretary?
Secretary runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was Secretary released?
Secretary was released on September 20, 2002.
Who directed Secretary?
Secretary was directed by Steven Shainberg.
More films by Steven Shainberg Who is in the cast of Secretary?
Secretary stars James Spader.
How much did Secretary make at the box office?
Secretary grossed $9.3 million worldwide ($4.1 million domestic, $5.2 million international).
How is Secretary rated?
Secretary has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 63 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
What awards did Secretary win?
Secretary won 2 awards from 5 nominations, including Best First Screenplay at the Spirit Awards 2003.
Does Secretary have a post-credit scene?
No. Secretary has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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