Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974 in Lincoln, Nebraska) is an American actress of Spanish and Native American descent. She is best known for her performances as troubled trans man Brandon Teena in the movie Boys Don't Cry and as a waitress-turned-boxer in Million Dollar Baby; both roles earned her Academy Awards for Best Actress.
Her film career in Hollywood began with a small part in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) and then a major part in The Next Karate Kid (1994), where she played the title character, the first female protégée of the (by then) legendary professor played by Pat Morita.
Swank also had a regular role on Beverly Hills 90210 during the show's eighth season, but was fired in the middle of the season, three weeks before landing the role in Boys Don't Cry.
Hilary Swank: Personal life
Swank makes no secret of her humble beginnings, particularly as a child growing up near Lake Samish in Bellingham, Washington. After winning her second Best Actress Oscar, she said:
"I don't know what I did in this life to deserve this. I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream."
She decided to pursue acting by the age of 16, dropping out of high school. She was still 15 when her parents separated, and her mother, supportive of her desire to act, moved the two of them to California, living in their car at first. Their homelessness did not last long; she soon got roles in television programs such as Evening Shade and Growing Pains.
But even after winning her first Oscar, she was reminded of her humble roots. She had earned only $75/day for her work on Boys Don't Cry, a total of $3000; her earnings were so low, that (according to an anecdote on 60 Minutes) she hadn't earned enough to qualify for health insurance.
On January 15, 2005, after arriving at a New Zealand airport she was fined NZ$230 by the Manukau District Court for not declaring an apple and orange she had on her person when she arrived. She appealed the fine but it was upheld on March 30, 2005. She has not been secret about her strong vegetarian regime which made it somewhat difficult in the physical training for Million Dollar Baby.
She has been married to fellow actor Chad Lowe, brother of actor Rob Lowe, since 1997.
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