Peter Sarsgaard Describes His 'Huge' Christmas Tree in the Middle of the Woods: 'We Decorate It' Every Year (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Peter Sarsgaard on Dec. 11, 2024.Photo:Theo Wargo/Getty

Peter Sarsgaard attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations - Peter Sarsgaard Career Retrospective at SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center on December 11, 2024 in New York City.

Theo Wargo/Getty

The holidays make for an opportunity forPeter Sarsgaardto connect with nature — and his very own Christmas tree!

In an interview surrounding the release of his new filmSeptember 5,Sarsgaard, 53, made a sweet revelation when asked about holiday traditions he and wifeMaggie Gyllenhaalshare each year.

“I will tell you something that I did do, and I’m pretty proud of this. Many years ago I bought a Christmas tree with the root ball on it in Vermont,” Sarsgaad says. “Took it back to my house, managed to get it inside. It was huge. And we used it and everything inside and then with a tractor, took it back out through the front door and planted it.”

“And it is now the biggest damn tree,” Sarsgaard, who shares two children with Gyllenhaal, 47, adds. “We decorate it and it’s kind of like way out in the middle of the woods. I put a solar battery on it and just, I dunno, there’s something really awesome about this Christmas tree in the middle of the forest.”

Peter Sarsgaard in September 5.Jürgen Olczyk/Paramount Pictures

Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard) in Paramount Pictures SEPTEMBER 5

Jürgen Olczyk/Paramount Pictures

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Sarsgaard portrays the late ABC News broadcaster and executive Roone Arledge, who led the network’s coverage of the incident. Next year, he will hit the big screen again when wife Maggie’s next movie as a director,The Bride, releases in September 2025.

Peter Sarsgaard on Nov. 19, 2024.Slaven Vlasic/Getty

Peter Sarsgaard attends a “September 5” New York Special Screening and Reception at The Whitby Hotel on November 19, 2024, in New York, New York.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty

For now, though, Sarsgaard is content to visit his Christmas tree once more. “In the national forest up there for a small fee you can cut down a tree and bring it down,” he says of spending the holidays in Vermont. “It’s nice to go pick your own out in the woods and it’ll always look like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.”

September 5is in limited theaters now; it expands to theaters everywhere Jan. 17.

source: people.com