Hilary Swank facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hilary Swank
Swank in 2015
Born	Hilary Ann Swank (1974-07-30) July 30, 1974 (age 50) Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Occupation	Actress film producer
Years active	1991–present
Spouse(s)	Chad Lowe ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2007)​ Philip Schneider ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	2

Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is an American actress and film producer. She first became known in 1992 for her role in the TV series Camp Wilder. She also made her film debut in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992).

Hilary gained more fame when she starred as Julie Pierce in The Next Karate Kid (1994). This was the fourth movie in The Karate Kid series. She also played Carly Reynolds in Beverly Hills, 90210 (1997–98).

She became famous around the world for her amazing performances. These included playing Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry (1999) and Maggie Fitzgerald in Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby (2004). For both roles, she won many awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Actress and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2005, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Hilary later started producing movies. She produced and starred in films like Amelia (2009), Conviction (2010), and You're Not You (2014). Other well-known movies she has been in include Freedom Writers (2007), Logan Lucky (2017), and The Hunt (2020). In 2022, she starred in the TV show Alaska Daily.

Early Life and Acting Dreams

Hilary Swank was born on July 30, 1974, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her mother, Judy Kay, was a secretary and dancer. Her father, Stephen Michael Swank, worked in the Oregon Air National Guard and later as a traveling salesman. Her family has roots in different countries, including Mexico, England, Germany, and Scotland.

When Hilary was six, her family moved to a home near Lake Samish in Bellingham, Washington. She went to elementary and middle school there. She was also a talented athlete, competing in the Junior Olympics for swimming and ranking fifth in gymnastics in her state. Hilary first acted on stage at age nine in a play called The Jungle Book.

When she was 15, her parents separated. Her mother, who supported Hilary's dream to act, moved with her to Los Angeles. They even lived in their car for a while until her mother saved enough money for an apartment. Hilary says her mother is her biggest inspiration. In California, Hilary went to South Pasadena High School but later left. She felt like an outsider there. She explained that she became an actor because she felt like she only truly belonged when she was involved with a character in a book or movie.

Hilary's Acting Journey

Hilary Swank's first movie role was a small part in the 1992 comedy horror film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. After that, she acted in a drama called Quiet Days in Hollywood. In this movie, she co-starred with Chad Lowe, who she later married.

Swank in 1998

Her first main role in a movie was in The Next Karate Kid (1994). She played Julie Pierce, and her gymnastics skills were very helpful for the role. She also worked with actor Pat Morita in this film. In 1997, Hilary played a single mom named Carly Reynolds in the TV show Beverly Hills, 90210. She was supposed to be on the show for two years, but her character was written out after only 16 episodes. Hilary felt very sad and worried about her acting future after this.

However, being cut from Beverly Hills, 90210 allowed her to try out for the role of Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry. To get ready for the part, Hilary lived as a man for a month and changed her body to look more like the character. She earned very little money for this film. When the movie came out, many critics praised her performance. Premiere magazine even called it one of the "100 Greatest Performances of All Time". Her hard work earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Actress. Later, Hilary shared that if the role were offered today, she believes a trans actor would be a better fit, showing her support for diverse casting.

Hilary won her second Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for playing a female boxer in Clint Eastwood's 2004 film Million Dollar Baby. For this role, she trained very hard in boxing and lifted weights, gaining 19 pounds of muscle. With her second Oscar, she joined a small group of actresses who have won both times they were nominated for Best Actress. After winning, she said, "I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream."

Swank at the 2006 San Diego Comic-Con

In 2006, Hilary became the face of Guerlain's Insolence perfume. On January 8, 2007, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2007, Hilary starred in Freedom Writers, playing a real-life teacher named Erin Gruwell. Many people loved her performance in this movie. That same year, she also appeared in the romantic drama P.S. I Love You with Gerard Butler.

Hilary played the famous pilot Amelia Earhart in the 2009 movie Amelia. She also helped produce this film through her company, 2S Films. To prepare, she even started taking flying lessons.

Swank at the 2013 Life Ball in Vienna, Austria

In 2014, Hilary played the main role of Kate Parker in You're Not You. Kate's life changes when she develops a serious illness called ALS. In 2015, the BBC listed her as one of their "100 Women". In 2017, she appeared in Steven Soderbergh's comedy Logan Lucky and the drama 55 Steps. In 2018, Hilary starred in and produced the film What They Had, which was about Alzheimer's disease.

In 2020, Hilary starred in the thriller film The Hunt. In September 2020, she played Emma, an astronaut, in the Netflix science drama series Away.

Other Projects

Clothing Line

In 2016, Hilary Swank launched her own luxury clothing line called Mission Statement. The clothes are made from eco-friendly fabrics. Hilary wanted to create clothing that supports women and doesn't have big logos. She said the brand focuses on the women wearing the clothes, not just the brand itself. The company works with suppliers who follow strict environmental rules.

Helping Others

In 2007, Hilary partnered with Pantene for their Beautiful Lengths charity campaign. This campaign encouraged people to donate their healthy hair to make free wigs for women who lost their hair due to cancer treatment. Hilary herself cut and donated her hair for the cause.

In 2014, Hilary hosted and helped produce a TV special called Cause for Paws: An All-Star Dog Special. This show celebrated the special bond between humans and dogs and highlighted rescue dogs. The Petco Foundation honored Hilary for her work helping animals. In 2015, she received the Compassion Award from the ASPCA.

Also in 2015, Hilary started her own nonprofit organization called the Hilaroo Foundation. This foundation brings together teenagers who are facing challenges and rescue dogs. The goal is for both the teens and the dogs to help each other heal and grow. She was inspired to create the foundation after rescuing a dog named Karoo in South Africa. In May 2024, Hilary also showed her support for Ukraine and joined UNITED24 ambassadors to help raise money for the country.

Personal Life

In 2011, Hilary Swank attended an event in Chechnya. She later said she was not aware of human rights concerns in the area and deeply regretted going. She donated the money she received for her appearance to charity.

In a 2020 interview, Hilary shared that she took a three-year break from acting starting in 2014. She did this to help her father recover after he had a lung transplant.

Hilary is good friends with actress Mariska Hargitay. Mariska was a maid of honor at Hilary's wedding to Philip Schneider in 2018. Hilary and Philip Schneider welcomed twins, a son and a daughter, in April 2023. Their names are Aya and Ohm.

Filmography

Swank at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

Swank and then First Lady Michelle Obama in 2011

Swank at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival

Images for kids

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