Hilary Swank is an American actress and two-time Academy Award winner, best known for her transformative lead performances in Boys Don’t Cry (1999) and Million Dollar Baby (2004). In October 2026, at 52, she announced she is expecting her third child; twins Aya and Ohm arrived in April 2023.
Hilary Swank biography: quick facts
| Full name | Hilary Ann Swank |
| Born | July 30, 1974, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA |
| Age | 52 (as of October 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actress, film producer |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Known for | Boys Don’t Cry, Million Dollar Baby, P.S. I Love You, Yellowjackets |
| Spouse | Philip Schneider (m. 2018) |
| Children | 3 — twins born April 2023, third due December 2026 |
| Academy Awards | 2 wins (Best Actress, 2000 & 2005) |
Early life & background
Hilary Ann Swank was born on July 30, 1974, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Stephen Michael Swank — a Chief Master Sergeant in the Oregon Air National Guard who later became a traveling salesman — and Judy Kay Swank (née Clough), a secretary and dancer (Britannica; Wikipedia). The family lived in Spokane, Washington, then moved near Lake Samish outside Bellingham, Washington, when she was six; she spent most of her childhood there. Her parents divorced in 1990, when she was 15–16.
After the split, Swank and her mother moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue acting — at first living in her mother’s car, per Swank’s account to the Wall Street Journal, until her mother could rent an apartment. She later dropped out of South Pasadena High School (Wikipedia).
Career: from TV bit parts to two Oscars
Swank’s career began with early-1990s TV guest roles (Harry and the Hendersons, Evening Shade, Growing Pains), a regular part on the sitcom Camp Wilder (1992–93), and her film debut in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), followed by the title role of Julie Pierce in The Next Karate Kid (1994) (Britannica). In 1997 she joined Beverly Hills, 90210 as Carly Reynolds — a one-season stint that ended with her dismissal, an event she says fueled her determination.
The turning point was Boys Don’t Cry (1999), playing Brandon Teena — a role that paid her $3,000, too little to qualify for union health insurance, yet won her the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 2000 ceremony (TheWrap; Britannica).
She earned her second Oscar playing waitress-turned-boxer Maggie Fitzgerald in Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby (2004), for which she reportedly earned about $3 million and gained roughly 20 pounds of muscle (Parade; Britannica). Later leads included Freedom Writers and P.S. I Love You (both 2007), Amelia (2009) — co-executive produced through her company 2S Films — The Homesman (2014), Logan Lucky (2017), and Fatale (2020).
On television, she executive produced and starred in Netflix’s Away (2020) and ABC’s Alaska Daily (2022–23). She joined Showtime’s Yellowjackets for its third season (premiered February 2025) and returns for the final season, premiering November 20, 2026 (Britannica).
Major achievements
Swank won Best Actress Oscars twice — in 2000 for Boys Don’t Cry and in 2005 for Million Dollar Baby (Britannica; Newsmax). She also holds two Golden Globes, a SAG Award, two Critics’ Choice Awards, and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star (2007).
Personal life
Swank married actor Chad Lowe in September 1997; they separated in 2006 and divorced in 2007 (Economic Times). In August 2018 she married social venture entrepreneur Philip Schneider in the California redwoods (PEOPLE). The couple’s twins, Aya and Ohm, were born in April 2023 — making her a first-time mother at 48 (USA Today).
On October 14, 2026, Swank announced via Instagram that she is pregnant with her third child: a video of her family doing a glow-in-the-dark dance to Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” ends with her revealing a tiny glowing stick figure on her baby bump. Her caption: “A lot of people have been asking what project I’m doing next, this one releases in December.” She told PEOPLE she is due “around Christmas time” (USA Today; PEOPLE).
Net worth snapshot
As of October 2026, there is no reputable published estimate of Hilary Swank’s net worth — no Forbes, Bloomberg, or Hurun figure exists — so our Hilary Swank’s net worth article states that plainly and estimates nothing. Documented anchors include $3,000 for Boys Don’t Cry, a reported ~$3 million for Million Dollar Baby, and a New York townhouse bought for $3.9 million and sold for $8.25 million.
Hilary Swank biography: FAQ
How old is Hilary Swank?
Hilary Swank was born on July 30, 1974, in Lincoln, Nebraska. She is 52 as of October 2026, when she announced her third pregnancy (Britannica; PEOPLE).
How many Oscars does Hilary Swank have?
Hilary Swank has won two Academy Awards, both for Best Actress: in 2000 for playing Brandon Teena in Boys Don’t Cry (1999), and in 2005 for playing Maggie Fitzgerald in Million Dollar Baby (2004) (Britannica).
Who is Hilary Swank’s husband?
Hilary Swank’s husband is Philip Schneider, a social venture entrepreneur. They married on August 18, 2018, in the California redwoods. She was previously married to actor Chad Lowe from 1997 to 2007 (PEOPLE).
Is Hilary Swank pregnant in 2026?
Yes. On October 14, 2026, Swank announced via Instagram that she is expecting her third child — captioning the video “this one releases in December” — and later told PEOPLE she is due “around Christmas time.” Twins Aya and Ohm were born in April 2023 (USA Today; PEOPLE).
What is Hilary Swank known for?
Hilary Swank is known for transformative lead roles in Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby, both earning her Best Actress Oscars. Other notable credits include P.S. I Love You, Amelia, The Homesman, Away, Alaska Daily, and Yellowjackets (Britannica).