Hilary Swank Biography

(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Brandon Teena’, a Transgender Man, in the Movie ‘Boys Don't Cry’)

Birthday: July 30, 1974 (Leo)

Born In: Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

Hilary Swank is an American actress famous for her award-winning performances in films like ‘Million Dollar Baby’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’. The recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, this talented actress is open to experimentation with roles and does not shy away from playing unglamorous characters. Her interest in acting was evident from her childhood, when at the age of 8 she announced to her family that she was going to be an actress. She had a difficult childhood, plagued with poverty, and her story is a classic example of how one can surmount life’s challenges with hard work and determination to achieve great success. As a teenager, she would escape into the imaginary world of novels and movies in order to distance herself from her difficult domestic life. She was active in her school and regional theater and excelled in swimming and gymnastics. At the age of sixteen, she moved to Los Angeles with her mother to pursue her acting career. She made her film debut with a small role in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and played minor roles in many other films. She got her big break when she was chosen to play the lead in ‘The Next Karate Kid’, a role which several other actresses were also vying for. In addition to films, Swank has also appeared in various television shows.

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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Hilary Ann Swank

Age: 50 Years, 50 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Philip Schneider (m. 2018), Chad Lowe (m. 1997–2007)

father: Stephen Michael Swank

mother: Judy Swank

Born Country: United States

Actresses T V & Movie Producers

Height: 5'6" (168 cm), 5'6" Females

Notable Alumni: Santa Monica College, Happy Valley Elementary School, Sehome High School

Ancestry: British American, German American, Dutch American, Mexican American

City: Lincoln, Nebraska

U.S. State: Nebraska

More Facts

education: Santa Monica College, Happy Valley Elementary School, Sehome High School

  • 1

    What movies did Hilary Swank star in?

    Hilary Swank starred in movies such as "Million Dollar Baby," "Boys Don't Cry," "Freedom Writers," "P.S. I Love You," and "Insomnia."

  • 2

    Is Hilary Swank a vegetarian?

    Yes, Hilary Swank follows a vegetarian diet for health and environmental reasons.

  • 3

    Does Hilary Swank have any tattoos?

    No, Hilary Swank does not have any tattoos.

  • 4

    What is Hilary Swank's workout routine?

    Hilary Swank incorporates a mix of activities in her workout routine, including boxing, Pilates, yoga, and strength training to stay fit and healthy.

  • 5

    Has Hilary Swank ever done voice acting for animated films?

    Yes, Hilary Swank has provided her voice for animated films such as "The Reaping," "The Black Dahlia," and "The Resident."

Childhood & Early Life

Hilary Swank was born on July 30, 1974, as the second child of Stephen Michael Swank and Judy Kay in Nebraska. Her father was an officer in the Air National Guard while her mother was a secretary cum dancer. She is of mixed ancestry.

She attended Happy Valley Elementary School and later went to Sehome High School. An athletic girl, she took part in various swimming and gymnastics competitions and was also active in the school and regional theater.

Her parents separated when she was sixteen and she moved to Los Angeles with her mother. There she enrolled in the South Pasadena High School but soon dropped out.

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Career

She began her acting career in 1991, with a guest appearance in the television series ‘Harry and the Hendersons’. The same year she played the guest role of Aimee Thompson in the sitcom series ‘Evening Shade’.

She made her Hollywood debut with a small role in the 1992 film, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’.

She landed her first major role when she was selected over many other actresses to play Julie Pierce in ‘The Next Karate Kid’ in 1994. Her gymnastics training proved helpful in learning the karate moves for the film.

Over the next three years she acted in television movies like ‘Victim of Rage’ (1994), ‘Terror in the Family’ (1996), and ‘Dying to Belong’ (1997).

In 1999, she was offered the role of Brandon Teena in ‘Boys Don’t Cry’. She was relatively unknown at the time of accepting that role, but her brilliant performance catapulted her into overnight fame.

She was flooded with movie offers and acted in the supernatural thriller ‘The Gift’ as Valerie Barksdale in 2000. This was followed by ‘The Affair of the Necklace’ (2001), ‘Insomnia’ (2002), and ‘The Core’ (2003).

The highly successful sports drama film ‘Million Dollar Baby’ happened in 2004, which proved to the world once again the actress’s dedication to her profession.

She appeared in a couple of lesser-known films in the next three years: ‘The Black Dahlia’ (2006) and ‘The Reaping’ (2007).

She acted in the offbeat film ‘Birds of America’ in 2008, followed by ‘Amelia’ in 2009, and ‘Conviction’ in 2010 where she played a single mother whose brother is convicted of murder.

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She was also seen in ‘The Resident’ and ‘New Year’s Eve’, both released in 2011.

She next starred in films such as ‘The Homesman,’ You're Not You,’ ‘Spark,’ ‘Logan Lucky,’ and ‘55 Steps.’ In 2018, she played the role of ‘Bridget Ertz’ in the drama film ‘What They Had.’ The film received positive reviews from critics.

She went on to star in ‘I Am Mother,’ ‘The Hunt,’ and ‘Fatale.’ She portrayed ‘Marissa Bennings’ in the 2023 American crime thriller film ‘The Good Mother.’ The film holds a 21% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Major Works

Her Academy Award-winning performance in ‘Boys Don't Cry’ (1999) is one of her most brilliant works. She played Brandon Teena, a young trans man who is brutally murdered when people realize his sexuality. Swank was commended for her courage in taking up such a controversial role.

She played the role of Maggie Fitzgerald, a would-be boxer in Clint Eastwood’s ‘Million Dollar Baby’ (2004). Her performance earned her rave reviews and several awards.

Awards & Achievements

She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1999, for her portrayal of Brandon Teena in ‘Boys Don’t Cry’. The same year, she was awarded The Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best (Lead) Actress for the same role.

In 2004, she won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Maggie Fitzgerald, a boxer, in ‘Million Dollar Baby’. She also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama the same year for the same role.

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Personal Life & Legacy

Swank married actor Chad Lowe in 1997, and divorced him in 2007, after a decade-long marriage.

She was in a relationship with her agent John Campisi for some years, but the couple has since broken up. In March 2016, she got engaged to Ruben Torres, however, the couple parted ways within a few months.

In August 2018, she married Philip Schneid. In September 2022, Hilary and Philip announced that they were expecting twins. They welcomed their twins in April 2023.

Facts About Hilary Swank

Hilary Swank has a black belt in Taekwondo and has been practicing martial arts since she was a teenager.

She once competed in the Junior Olympics as a swimmer before pursuing her career in acting.

Hilary Swank is known for her philanthropic work and has supported various charitable organizations focused on education and healthcare.

She is an avid animal lover and has been involved in animal rights advocacy.

Hilary Swank is a talented artist and enjoys painting and drawing in her free time.

Hilary Swank Movies

1. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

  (Sport, Drama)

2. Boys Don't Cry (1999)

  (Crime, Drama, Romance, Biography)

3. Freedom Writers (2007)

  (Biography, Crime, Drama)

4. You're Not You (2014)

  (Drama)

5. Logan Lucky (2017)

  (Drama, Crime, Comedy)

6. P.S. I Love You (2007)

  (Drama, Romance)

7. Conviction (2010)

  (Drama, Biography)

8. Insomnia (2002)

  (Thriller, Drama, Mystery)

9. 11:14 (2003)

  (Drama, Crime, Comedy)

10. Red Dust (2004)

  (Drama)

Awards

Academy Awards(Oscars)
2005 Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Million Dollar Baby (2004)
2000 Best Actress in a Leading Role Boys Don't Cry (1999)
Golden Globe Awards
2005 Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama Million Dollar Baby (2004)
2000 Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama Boys Don't Cry (1999)

See the events in life of Hilary Swank in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Hilary Swank Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/hilary-swank-3417.php

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