“Secretary” is a 2002 American erotic romantic drama directed by Steven Shainberg and starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. The story follows Lee Holloway, a shy and troubled young woman recently released from a mental institution, who takes a job as a secretary for demanding lawyer E. Edward Grey. Their professional relationship quickly evolves into a consensual BDSM dynamic, where Lee discovers empowerment, healing, and intimacy through unconventional means. Balancing dark humor, erotic tension, and emotional vulnerability, the film explores themes of control, self-acceptance, and the complexities of love outside societal norms.