Does Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don't Cry, ring a bell? If not, then let's just brush up; she is the woman who is driven by desire and determination. She is Hilary Swank; the winner of two Academy Awards.
Milestones
Swank began her career with a brief appearance in
Henry and the Hendersons. Swank made her film debut with
Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1992, following which she starred in
Quiet Days in Hollywood where she met her husband, Chad Lowe. Her first big break came to her in the movie
The Next Karate Kid in which she played the role of Julie and flaunted her gymnastics background.
In
Boys Don't Cry, Swank actually transformed herself into the role of the character she was playing. She worked closely with acting coach, Larry Mills who suggested that Swank spend a month dressed as a man. Swank took up the challenge and cropped her hair to bag the part, and moved around the town disguised as a man. Gaining critical acclaim for her performance, she bagged an Academy Award and a Golden Globe among others for her breakthrough performance.
Swank trained under Hector Roca for her role of Maggie in the
Million Dollar Baby where she played the role of a female boxer. Here again, she pulled herself through a grueling training regime to portray a tough but determined female boxer. Her ability to completely inhabit the character she played won her accolades and Swank earned another Oscar and a Golden Globe for her performance.
Swank was presented with the 2325th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007. Swank co-produced Mira Nair's biopic
Amelia in which she essayed the role of a pioneering aviator, Amelia Earhart.
Career Moves
Filmography |
Year |
Movie |
As |
2011 |
New Year's Eve |
Claire Morgan |
2011 |
The Resident |
Dr. Juliet Devereau |
2010 |
Conviction |
Betty Anne Waters |
2009 |
Amelia |
Amelia Earhart |
2008 |
Birds of America |
Laura |
2007 |
P.S. I Love You |
Holly |
2007 |
The Reaping |
Katherine |
2007 |
Freedom Writers |
Erin Gruwell |
2006 |
The Black Dahlia |
Madeleine Linscott |
2004 |
Million Dollar Baby |
Maggie Fitzgerald |
2004 |
Red Dust |
Sarah Barcant |
2004 |
Iron Jawed Angels (TV movie) |
Alice Paul |
2003 |
11:14 |
Buzzy |
2003 |
The Core |
Maj. Rebecca Childs |
2002 |
The Space Between (short) |
- |
2002 |
Insomnia |
Ellie Burr |
2001 |
The Affair of the Necklace |
Jeanne St. Remy de Valois |
2000 |
The Gift |
Valerie Barksdale |
2000 |
The Audition (short) |
- |
1999 |
Boys Don't Cry |
Brandon Teena |
1998 |
Heartwood |
Sylvia Orsini |
1997 |
The Sleepwalker Killing (TV movie) |
Lauren Schall |
1997 |
Dying to Belong (TV movie) |
Lisa Connors |
1996 |
Terror in the Family (TV movie) |
Deena Marten |
1996 |
Sometimes They Come Back... Again (video) |
Michelle Porter |
1995 |
Quiet Days in Hollywood |
Lolita |
1994 |
The Next Karate Kid |
Julie Pierce |
1994 |
Cries Unheard: The Donna Yaklich Story (TV movie) |
Patty Yaklich |
1992 |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer |
Kimberly |
Television Appearances |
Year |
Series |
Character |
1991-92 |
Evening Shade |
Aimee |
1992-93 |
Camp Wilder |
Danielle |
1997 |
Leaving L.A. |
Tiffany Roebuck |
1997-98 |
Beverly Hills 90210 |
Carly Reynolds |
Accolades
Movie |
Nominations |
Conviction |
Screen Actors Guild Award |
P.S. I Love You |
Irish Film and Television Awards |
Iron Jawed Angels |
Golden Globe (Miniseries)
Screen Actors Guild Award (Miniseries) |
Million Dollar Baby |
Academy Award
Boston Society of Film Critics Award
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award
Florida Film Critics Circle Award
Golden Globe Award
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award
National Society of Film Critics Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance
Empire Award
MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance
Online Film Critics Society Award
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance |
Insomnia |
Empire Award |
The Gift |
Saturn Award for Supporting actress |
Boys Don't Cry |
Academy Award
Boston Society of Film Critics Award
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award
Chicago Film Critics Association Award
Chicago International Film Festival, Silver Hugo Award
Chlotrudis Award
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award
Florida Film Critics Circle Award
Gijón International Film Festival Award
Golden Globe Award - Motion Picture Drama
Independent Spirit Award
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award
National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance
New York Film Critics Circle Award
Santa Fe Film Critics Circle Award
Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award
Toronto Film Critics Association Award
BAFTA Award in a Leading Role
Empire Award
MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss
MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance
Online Film Critics Society Award
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance |
Hilary Swank, in all, comes forth as a woman who perseveres and fights against all odds. From a trailer park to an Oscar-winning performance, Swank has endured the worst of life and has certainly made the best of the opportunities that came her way. Hilary Swank best described would be
the girl who proves her mettle; needless to say, she is the one who has never failed to take up new challenges despite the obstacles she has encountered in the past.