From http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005476/
Biography for
Hilary Swank

Birth name
Hilary Ann Swank
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Height
5' 5" (1.65 m)
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Mini biography
Hilary was discovered as a child by producer Suzy Sachs, who coached her in acting. When she was nine years old she starred in her first play as "Mowgli" in "The Jungle Book." She began to appear regularly in local theater and school plays. She went to school in Bellingham, where she lived with her family, until she was 16. She competed in the Junior Olympics and Washington State championships in swimming; she ranked 5th in the state in all-around gymnastics (which would come in handy for starring in The Next Karate Kid (1994) years later). In 1990, Hilary and her mother moved to Los Angeles, where she enrolled in South Pasadena High School, and started acting professionally. She appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) but The Next Karate Kid (1994) where she got the part competing against hundreds of other actresses was her breakout role. Ever since then she has been much in demand, and has worked non-stop in movies. She won the Best Actress Oscar for Boys Don't Cry (1999). She starred in a few minor films before starring in Clint Eastwood's boxing drama Million Dollar Baby (2004) that won her a Golden Globe and a SAG Award, as well as her second Academy Award. She is two for two at the Oscars, a feat she shares only with a few other women. Off-screen, she married Chad Lowe on September 28, 1997. An aficionado for anything that involves the outdoors, she enjoys: sky diving, river rafting, and skiing.


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IMDb mini-biography by
kdhaisch@aol.com
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Spouse
Chad Lowe (28 September 1997 - present) (separated)

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Trivia
2000 - Named one of "People" magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.

Cut off all of her hair and lived as a boy for a month to prepare her for her role as Teena Brandon in Boys Don't Cry (1999).

Sister-in-law of Rob Lowe.

She won the lead role of Brandon/Teena in Boys Don't Cry (1999) after hundreds of other actresses had been considered and rejected over the course of three years. Told director Kimberly Peirce that, like her character, she was also 21 and hailed from Lincoln, Nebraska. But she was fibbing, and when Peirce later confronted her with the lies, she winningly responded: "But that's what Brandon would do."

Has been acting professionally since she was 16.

Has a parrot and a cat named Tallinn.

Competed in the Junior Olympics and Washington state championships in swimming; ranked fifth in the state in all-around gymnastics.

Discovered as a young child actor by producer Suzy Sachs.

Met husband Chad Lowe on set of Quiet Days in Hollywood (1997), married after 5-month relationship.

Mother Judy Swank moved with her to LA area at age 16, where, impoverished for a while, they lived out of their car.

Earned $75 a day for Boys Don't Cry (1999).

Auditioned for the role of Lucy Hatcher on the television series "The Practice" (1997).

Of Spanish and Native American heritage.

Hilary's 20th birthday party was a 1974 themed party and was held in Hollywood at The Crush Bar.

She and husband moved into a 4-story brownstone home in Greenwich Village (NYC) they bought for $4 million. (June, 2002)

Sister-in-law of makeup artist Sheryl Berkoff.

Although she was naturally athletic from high school, she totally changed physically to play Maggie in Million Dollar Baby (2004). She gained nearly 20 pounds, becoming so buff that her former clothes are still too small for her.

Attended Santa Monica College.

First woman to win an Oscar in a role as a boxer

Is the third youngest actress to win 2 Best Actress Academy Awards. Luise Rainer and Jodie Foster were the first and second, respectively.

Joined Vivien Leigh, Helen Hayes, Sally Field and Luise Rainer as the only actresses with a perfect track record at the Oscars: Two nominations and two wins.

15th January 2005: Fined NZ$200 (AUD$190) for bringing undeclared fruit into New Zealand. She was found with an apple and orange at New Zealand's Auckland International Airport. She has since contested the fine.

Grew up in Bellingham, Washington

Both of her Oscar-winning roles required huge physical changes

Though she's known for her dramatic work, she starred in several sitcom pilots for CBS that never amounted to much.

Has 2 dogs: Karoo, a Corgi/Jack Russell mix, and Lucky, a German Shepherd/Labarador Retriever mix.

Announced in January 2006 that she and husband Chad Lowe are separating after 8 years of marriage.

Actress - filmography
Freedom Writers (2006) (filming)
The Reaping (2006) (post-production) .... Katherine Morrissey
The Black Dahlia (2006) (post-production) .... Madeleine Sprague


"Saturday Night Live"
... aka NBC's Saturday Night (USA: original title)
... aka SNL
... aka SNL 25 (USA: new title)
... aka Saturday Night Live '80 (USA: new title)
- Episode #30.13 (2005) TV Episode .... Host
Million Dollar Baby (2004) .... Maggie Fitzgerald
Red Dust (2004) .... Sarah Barcant
Iron Jawed Angels (2004) (TV) .... Alice Paul
11:14 (2003) .... Buzzy
The Core (2003) .... Maj. Rebecca Childs
... aka Core (USA: poster title)
The Space Between (2002)
Insomnia (2002) .... Detective Ellie Burr
The Affair of the Necklace (2001) .... Jeanne St. Remy de Valois
The Gift (2000) .... Valerie Barksdale
The Audition (2000)


Boys Don't Cry (1999) .... Teena Brandon - Brandon Teena
Heartwood (1998) .... Sylvia Orsini
"Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990) TV Series .... Carly Reynolds (1997-1998)
Quiet Days in Hollywood (1997) .... Lolita
... aka The Way We Are
The Sleepwalker Killing (1997) (TV) .... Lauren Schall
... aka Crimes of Passion: Sleepwalker (UK)
... aka From the Files of Unsolved Mysteries: The Sleepwalker Killing
"Leaving L.A." (1997) TV Series .... Tiffany Roebuck
Dying to Belong (1997) (TV) .... Lisa Connors
Sometimes They Come Back... Again (1996) .... Michelle Porter
... aka Sometimes They Come Back 2 (USA)
Terror in the Family (1996) (TV) .... Deena Martin
Kounterfeit (1996) .... Colleen
The Next Karate Kid (1994) .... Julie Pierce
Cries Unheard: The Donna Yaklich Story (1994) (TV) .... Patty
... aka Victim of Rage
"Camp Wilder" (1992) TV Series .... Danielle
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) .... Kimberly Hannah
"Growing Pains"
- Menage a Luke (1992) TV Episode .... Sasha Serotsky
- There Must Be a Pony (1991) TV Episode .... Sasha Serotsky
"Evening Shade" (1990) TV Series .... Aimee #1 (1991-1992)
"Harry and the Hendersons"
- Harry Goes Ape (1991) TV Episode
"ABC TGIF" (1990) TV Series .... Danielle



Filmography as: Actress, Producer, Herself, Archive Footage

Producer - filmography
(In Production) (2000s)

Freedom Writers (2006) (filming) (executive producer)
Beautiful Ohio (2006) (post-production) (producer)
"Celebrity Charades" (2005) TV Series (post-production) (executive producer)


11:14 (2003) (executive producer)



Filmography as: Actress, Producer, Herself, Archive Footage

Herself - filmography
(In Production) (2000s)

On Native Soil (2005) (post-production) .... Narrator


"The Oprah Winfrey Show"
... aka Oprah (USA: short title)
- Episode dated 14 November 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 28 February 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 31 January 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
A Concert for Hurricane Relief (2005) (TV) .... Herself
Born to Fight (2005) (V) .... Herself
James Lipton Takes On Three (2005) (V) .... Herself
2005 MTV Movie Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter
"Waratte iitomo"
- Episode dated 26 May 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Leading Role
"Late Night with Conan O'Brien"
- Episode dated 17 February 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 24 November 1999 (1999) TV Episode .... Herself
11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Winner: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role/Nominee: Outstanding Performance by a Cast of a Motion Picture, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Motion Picture [Drama]/Nominee: Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Made for TV Movie
Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope (2005) (TV) .... Herself
The 10th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself - winner
"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"
- Episode dated 20 December 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 25 March 2003 (2003) TV Episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 23 November 2001 (2001) TV Episode .... Herself
"Today"
... aka NBC News Today (USA: promotional title)
... aka The Today Show (USA)
- Episode dated 13 December 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Herself
The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004) (TV) .... Herself (presenter: Best Female Lead)
Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003) (V) .... Herself (interviewee)
... aka Playboy Presents Sex at 24 Frames Per Second: The Ultimate Journey Through Sex in Cinema (USA: complete title)
"Late Show with David Letterman"
... aka Late Show Backstage (USA: title for episodes with guest hosts)
... aka The Late Show (USA: informal short title)
- Episode dated 4 April 2003 (2003) TV Episode .... Herself
"The Daily Show"
... aka The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (USA: new title)
... aka The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Global Edition (International: English title: cut version)
- Episode dated 27 March 2003 (2003) TV Episode .... Herself
The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter: Film clip from 'The Hours'/Past winner
2002 MTV Movie Awards (2002) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter
Day for Night: The Making of 'Insomnia' (2002) (V) .... Herself
"The Rosie O'Donnell Show"
- Episode dated 7 November 2001 (2001) TV Episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 6 March 2000 (2000) TV Episode .... Herself
The Concert for New York City (2001) (TV) .... Herself
The 73rd Annual Academy Awards (2001) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter: Best Actor
The 2001 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2001) (TV) (uncredited) .... Herself - Presenter
The Orange British Academy Film Awards (2001) (TV) .... Herself
The Gift: A Look Inside (2001) (V) .... Herself
"HBO First Look"
- The Affair of the Necklace (2001) TV Episode .... Herself
Beverly Hills 90210: The E! True Hollywood Story (2001) (TV) .... Herself/Carly Reynolds
The 72nd Annual Academy Awards (2000) (TV) .... Herself - Best Actress Winner
The 57th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2000) (TV) .... Herself



Filmography as: Actress, Producer, Herself, Archive Footage

Archive Footage


Oficio de actor, El (2005) (TV) (uncredited) .... Herself
San Sebastián 2005: Crónica de Carlos Boyero (2005) (TV) (uncredited) .... Teena Brandon - Brandon Teena
101 Biggest Celebrity Oops (2004) (TV) .... Herself - #63: Acceptance Speech Goofs


I saw her in A Million Dollar Baby, Insomnia and Boys Don't Cry. She doesn't looks as good in movies than at her Oscars. She is divorced to Chad Lowe. I hope she makes nore movies.

This brown-haired, brown-eyed actress Hilary Swank found success in Hollywood not long after unpacking her bags. The athletic native of Bellingham, Washington moved to Los Angeles when she was 16 and soon landed a guest starring role on the syndicated "Harry and the Hendersons". She then played recurring characters on both "Evening Shade" (CBS) and "Growing Pains" (ABC) during the 1991-92 season before making her feature debut as Kristy Swanson's Valley Girl pal in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1992). Swank beat out thousands of actresses for the coveted lead part of Julie in "The Next Karate Kid" (1994), a role that required her to call on her athletic prowess. It marked her most prominent role to date.

A regular on ABC's short-lived series "Camp Wilder" (1992-93), likewise on ABC's even more brief "Leaving L.A." (1997), Swank gained some notice when she joined the cast of Fox's popular "Beverly Hills, 90210" in 1997 playing a single mom who served as a love interest for Ian Ziering's character, Steve. Roles in the straight-to-video releases "Sometimes They Come Back. . . Again" (1994) and "Kounterfeit" (1997), however, did little to raise her profile, nor did her work in the telefilms "Terror in the Family" (Fox, 1996) and "Dying to Belong" (NBC, 1997).

Her lack of name recognition aided Swank in landing the career transforming role of Teena Brandon, a Nebraska woman who opts to live as a man, in "Boys Don't Cry" (1999). Based on a true story and beautifully realized by director Kimberly Peirce, the film presented numerous challenges for Swank. Having successfully passed the audition, she cut off her long hair and worked with a trainer to build the requisite muscle. As part of her extensive preparation, she created a male alter ego and spent close to a month living in that persona in Los Angeles, a move that provided the actress with plenty of first-hand research. The onscreen results were astonishing—she conveyed the swagger and fragility of the character, with many praising her performance as one of the year's best. Swank earned many accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Now one of Hollywood's It girls, Swank fielded numerous offers, opting to take the role of an abused wife in the ensemble of Sam Raimi's Southern Gothic "The Gift" (2000) before undertaking the lead role as a French noblewoman in the period drama "The Affair of the Necklace" (2001). She continued to chose her roles carefully, next appearing in 2002's eerie Alaskan thriller "Insomnia" with Al Pacino and Robin Williams, and directed by Christopher Nolan of “Memento” (2000) fame. She was next seen alongside Aaron Eckhart in the sci-fi thriller "The Core" (2003), a contrived disaster flick about the impending destruction of the earth after its core mysteriously stops rotating. Though trailers were pulled after the Space Shuttle tragedy, the movie would have flopped regardless on its own accord.

Just as she was beginning to appear to be the recipient of an early-Oscar-win curse, Swank rebounded with a strong performance in the widely praised HBO sufferagette telepic "Iron Jawed Angels" (2004)—for which she earned a Golden Globe award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role – Mini-Series or Television Movie. She then appeared in “Million Dollar Baby” (2004), an engrossing drama that some have called one of director Clint Eastwood's best films. As Maggie Fitzgerald, a tough and determined but undisciplined female boxer looking for someone to believe in her, Swank both carved her body into a taughtly muscled fighting machine and wore her character's emotions openly, delivering her most compelling performance since her breakout in "Boys Don't Cry." The role earned the actress a slew of important accolades, including a Golden Globe award win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and a Screen Actors Guild Award triumph, culminating with her second Oscar victory for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Born: on 07/30/74 in Lincoln, NebraskaJob Titles: ActorFamily
Brother: Dan Swank. born c. 1966; owns marketing company in Edmonds, Washington
Father: Stephen Swank. was officer in the National Guard; separated from Swank's mother c. 1990
Mother: Judy Swank. accompanied daughter to L.A. after separating from husband c. 1990
Significant Others
Husband: Chad Lowe. met c. 1992; married on October 2, 1997; worked together on feature "Quiet Days in Hollywood" (shown at 1997 Cannes Festival)
Education
Santa Monica City College, Santa Monica, California
South Pasadena High School, South Pasadena, California
Milestones
1983 Began acting career at age 9 as Mowgli in school play of "The Jungle Book" (date approximate)
1990 Moved to Los Angeles at age 16 (date approximate)
1991 Played recurring roles in ABC's "Growing Pains" and CBS' "Evening Shade"
1991 Landed first job as guest star in episode of the syndicated series "Harry and the Hendersons"
1992 Had regular role in ABC's comedy series "Camp Wilder"
1992 Portrayed Kimberly, Kristy Swanson's Valley Girl pal, in the feature "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
1994 Played lead in the feature "The Next Karate Kid"
1997 Joined the cast of "Beverly Hills, 90210" (FOX) as Carly Reynolds, a single mother who becomes a love interest for Steve Sanders (Ian Ziering)
1997 Was regular on the short-lived ABC series "Leaving L.A."
1999 Offered a Oscar winning performance as Teena Brandon, a young woman undergoing a sexual identity crisis who opted to live as a man and was brutally raped and murdered when it was discovered she was born female, in "Boys Don't Cry"; based on a true story
2000 Cast in "The Gift", directed by Sam Raimi
2001 Appeared as a French noblewoman in "The Affair of the Necklace"
2002 Co-starred with Al Pacino in the American version of "Insomnia"
2003 Co-starred as Major Beck Childs in the sci-fi thriller "The Core"
2004 Co-starred with Clint Eastwood in "Million Dollar Baby" as a woman determined to establish herself as a boxer
2004 Signed to be the exclusive celebrity model of the Calvin Klein intimate apparel
2004 Starred opposite Anjelica Huston and Frances O'Connor in the HBO movie "Iron Jawed Angels" about the stuggle for womens right to vote; received Golden Globe and SAG nominations for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Competed in the Junior Olympics and Washington state championships in swimming; ranked fifth in the state in all-around gymnastics
Raised in Bellingham, Washington
Will star as a university professor who spends her spare time debunking alleged miracles in "The Reaping" (lensed 2005)
Won the Best Junior Actress Award from the Bellingham Theatre Guild

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800020739/bio

she is really one of the greatest actress in hollywood .. i still cant' believe she is breaking up with her husband. they look so loving together.

I like Hilary Swank, lol she got that tomboy thing goin on kinda and shes very beautiful

I have to say she is great in Freedom writers! I would recommend it to you...its a very Inspirational film!! Great Actress