Actor Biography

With a career spanning more than 20 years as one of Hollywood's most dynamic and nuanced voices, Hilary Swank is the epitome of a consummate professional as an actress and producer. A two-time Academy Award®-winning actress, Swank has worked with leading filmmakers such as Clint Eastwood, Christopher Nolan, Mira Nair, Richard LaGravenese, Tom McCarthy, Gary Marshall, Philip Noyce, Brian De Palma, Steven Soderbergh, Craig Zobel and Sam Raimi.

This year, Swank starred in "Mother's Milk" for Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, opposite Olivia Cooke and Jack Reynor, as well as the faith-based film "Ordinary Angels" for Lionsgate opposite Alan Ritchson. Swank will next be seen in the series "Alaska Daily" for Oscar® winner Tom McCarthy. She previously starred in Deon Taylor's detective thriller, "Fatale," opposite Michael Ealy. The film released in theaters on Dec. 18, 2020, through Lionsgate. She also recently starred in the Netflix drama series, "Away," which she also executive produced. Swank appeared as American astronaut Emma Green, who had to leave her husband and teenage daughter behind to command an international space crew embarking upon a treacherous mission to Mars. The series released on Netflix on Sept. 4, 2020.

In 2016, Swank added fashion designer to her resume by founding her clothing line, Mission Statement. In a world where women are often objectified and trivialized, Swank focused on creating clothes that merge high-performance and high fashion to allow the wearer to find the perfect balance of movement while they are working out, in the office, resting or playing. Also that year, Swank starred in FX's limited series "Trust" alongside Donald Sutherland. She portrayed Gail Getty, the mother of the kidnapped John Paul Getty III, the heir to the Getty oil fortune. When her son is taken, she is left to pay his multimillion-dollar ransom, despite being broke. The show is executive produced by Danny Boyle and set in 1973 Rome.

Swank's breakout role as Brandon Teena in the 1999 drama "Boy's Don't Cry" earned her an Oscar for Best Actress. Her much-lauded performance also earned her a Golden Globe® Award and Critics' Choice Award as well as New York Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics, and National Society of Film Critics Awards in the same category. Additionally, the National Board of Review recognized Swank's work with the Breakthrough Performance of the Year Award, and she earned BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® nominations. In 2005, Swank won her second Academy Award for her starring role in Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winning Best Picture "Million Dollar Baby." In addition, she won her second Golden Globe Award and a SAG Award as well as the National Society of Film Critics and Critics' Choice Awards for Best Actress. That same year, she also earned Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations for her role in HBO's "Iron Jawed Angels."

Other credits include starring in and executive producing the fact-based drama "Conviction," which Swank received a SAG Award nomination; starring in and executive producing Mira Nair's "Amelia," the story of the legendary aviatrix; and "Freedom Writers," directed by Richard LaGravenese. Additional credits include Steven Soderbergh's "Logan Lucky," LaGravenese's "P.S. I Love You," Elizabeth Chomko's "What They Had," Brian De Palma's "The Black Dahlia," "I Am Mother," "The Affair of the Necklace," Sam Raimi's "The Gift," Stephen Hopkins' thriller "The Reaping," Christopher Nolan's "Insomnia," and Gary Marshall's "New Year's Eve," as well as producing the romantic comedy "Something Borrowed," the first film produced under the banner of her production company, 2S Films, formed in partnership with Molly Mickler Smith.

Swank's additional efforts focus on her commitment to animal welfare and rescue. In 2009, Swank participated in the IAMS Home for the Holidays campaign dedicated to placing homeless pets. During the campaign, more than 1.4 million animals found forever homes. She's also been involved with Best Friend's Animal Society for more than a decade and is an ambassador for this organization which works tirelessly on behalf of animals through adoption, spay/neuter programs and education programs for pet parents. On Thanksgiving Day, 2014 and 2015, Swank executive produced and co-hosted a groundbreaking primetime two-hour special on FOX aimed at dog rescue titled "FOX'S CAUSE FOR PAUSE: An All-Star Dog Spectacular." During the event, more than 60 dogs were rescued and tens of thousands of dollars raised to help local, grassroots charities.

Swank continues her dedication and commitment to animal welfare through the launch of her charity, The Hilaroo Foundation, which will bring youth, who have been given up on, and animals, who have been abandoned, together to help heal one another through rescue, rehabilitation, and responsibility training.