Hilary Swank Pictures, News, Bio, Movie Trailers

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Born Hilary Ann Swank in Lincoln, Nebraska on July 30, 1974, the future actress and 2005 Oscar award and Golden Globe winner - for her starring role in Million Dollar Baby - grew up in Bellingham, Washington and as a child was active in sports and gymnastics.

She later competed in the Junior Olympics and eventually ranked fifth in the state of Washington in all-around gymnastics.

The spirited kid with the lanky frame, Swank was all of 16 years old when she decided to move to Los Angeles to persue an acting career. Two years later, the fledgling actress had her first minor role in 1992's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and in 1994 starred in the forgettable The Next Karate Kid alongside Pat Morita.

Subsequent to her appearance in a number of minor film roles, Swank briefly took on the character of Steve's (Ian Ziering) girlfriend Carly in 1997 in the hit TV series 90210, the same year she married actor Chad Lowe.

Then in 1999, Swank's career skyrocketed with a starring role in Boys Don't Cry as Teena Brandon, a small town woman whose decision to live her life as a man ultimately ends in violence and murder. Her powerful performance met with unrelenting praise from critics, earning Swank both Golden Globe and Oscar Awards for Best Actress.

Surprisingly, Swank returned to less-than-memorable roles in such movies as The Gift (2001), Insomnia (2002) with Al Pacino, and in the sci-fi action film, The Core (2003) -- before once again becoming the talk of Hollywood with her recent portrayal of a boxer determined to train over the objections of her coach, played by Clint Eastwood, in Million Dollar Baby -- for which the actress triumphantly won Best Actress at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the 2005 Oscars.

Offscreen, Swank has been in the headlines over the breakup with husband Chad Lowe stating that the couple have decided to divorce after more than eight years of marriage.

In 2007, the actress has started off the new year in Freedom Writers which has opened to glowing reviews for both the film and its star. In the movie, Swank plays real-life inspirational teacher Erin Gruwell, who encourages her high school students to fight for their dreams.

Hilary Swank News - News headlines and feature stories about the actress from various sources around the Web, from Topix.net

Ugo.com - Hilary Swank interview from The Core - Interview with the actress about her role in the Paramount Pictures disaster film.

Hilary Swank - Flexing her acting muscles - Feature story from the Seattle Times discussing her career and starring role in Million Dollar Baby.

~ ~ Talented ~ ~ Hilary Swank Fanlisting - Offering a bio, filmography, picture gallery.

Hillary Swank Current Month TV Schedule - Schedules and times of when the actress will be appearing on U.S. network and cable channels around the TV dial.