Hilary Ann Swank was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on July 30, 1974. She grew up in Bellingham, Washington and as a child, devoted much of her time to athletic pursuits. Swank swam in the Junior Olympics, state championships and ranked fifth in her state for gymnastics. At the age of sixteen, Swank moved to Los Angeles to realize her dream of becoming an actress.
Her first notable screen credit was as the sidekick in the feature film, Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1992. Two years later, she earned a modicum of fame when she was chosen to star in The Next Karate Kid, a critical and box-office failure.
Swank appeared in a number of minor films subsequent to the film and gained recognition on Beverly Hills, 90210 for a season, as Steve's (Ian Ziering) girlfriend Carly. In 1999, Swank found a role that would change her life forever in the independent drama Boys Don't Cry. Based on the story of Teena Brandon, a woman whose decision to lead her life as a man met with dire consequences, Boys Don't Cry was a runaway success. Particular praise went to Swank for her stunning performance, for which she won a Golden Globe and Academy Award. Subsequent projects included The Gift, The Affair of the Necklace, the science fiction vehicle The Core, and the thriller Insomnia, with Al Pacino and Robin Williams.
DVD Review: 'Million Dollar Baby' Rich in Dialog, Emotion, CharacterCalifornia Chronicle, CA18--When I heard "Million Dollar Baby," 2004, was about Hilary Swank playing female boxer Maggie Fitzgerald, my latent porcine male chauvinism emerged. I never figured that described me, but how else can I explain my reluctance to see a movie about
PHOTO: Hilary Swank Takes Flight as Amelia EarhartPeople MagazineShe's taken on transgendered teens and female boxers, so it only seems fitting that 34-year-old actress Hilary Swank bust the gender barrier again on the silver screen – this time as legendary aviatrix Amelia Earhart, in the upcoming movie Amelia.
Fug or Fab: Hilary SwankTheInsider.com, CAYeah, yeah, yeah. Objectively, she looks totally fine. The dress is great. Yadda.And yet it leaves me cold. And I don't know why. The color is fine. The fit is fine. I am not a huge fan of the [[ This is a content summary only.
'Betty Anne Waters' a gift for local actorsDetroit Free Press, United StatesThe largest roles in the film went to two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank (who plays the title role) and well-known names like Minnie Driver, Sam Rockwell and Peter Gallagher. But about 30 speaking parts out of a total of around 55 went to actors from
Star quality; Actress Minnie Driver visits cast and crewThe Ann Arbor News - MLive.com, MIHollywood star Minnie Driver - who's in town to film "Betty Anne Waters" with Hilary Swank - dropped in on the 180-member cast and crew of the production. Jay Sandweiss, a Tappan parent who helped the cast warm up each night, invited Driver to stop by,
Personal Statement: The glamorous life of a movie extra Michigan DailyLights, Camera, Action: Casting Call in Michigan Michigan Journal (subscription)all 4 news articles
Smith seeks 'Karate' advice from MacchioDigital Spy, UK a written role" then he "would not turn away looking at that. I support them making their own hit franchise." Macchio starred in the first three Karate Kid movies before Hilary Swank took over the lead role in the fourth instalment.