CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Hilary Ann Swank

Born July 30, 1974

Age: 34

Place: Lincoln, Nebraska

Hialry Swank has a brother, Dan. Many of her family members are from Ringgold Count, Iowa. Swank came from humble beginnings, particularly as a child growing up in a trailer park near Lake Samish in Bellingham, WA.

When Swank was nine years old, she made her first appearance on stage starring in The Jungle Book. She went to Sehome High School in Bellingham, WA until she was sixteen. Swank also competed in the Junior Olympics and the Washington state championships in swimming; she ranked fifth in the state in all-around gymnastics (which would come in handy when starring in The Next Karate Kid (1994) years later).

Swank's parents separated when she was thirteen, and her mother, supportive of her daughter's desire to act, moved to Los Angeles, where they lived out of their car until Swank's mother saved enough money to rent an apartment. Swank has described her mother as the inspiration for her acting career and her life. In California, Swank enrolled in South Pasadena High School (although she later dropped out of school) and started acting professionally. She helped pay the rent with the money she earned appearing in television programs such as Evening Shade and Growing Pains.

Hilary starred in The Next Karate Kid (1974), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1997), Boys Don't Cry ((1999). Swank reduced her body fat to seven percent in preparation for the role in Boys Don't Cry. Many critics hailed hers as the best female performance of 1999. Her work ultimately won her the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Actress. She subsequently won the Best Actress Oscar and Golden Globe again for playing a boxer in Clint Eastwood's 2004 Oscar-winning film Million Dollar Baby, a role for which she underwent training in the ring and gained 19 pounds of muscle.

In early 2006, Swank signed a three-year contract as spokesperson for Guerlain (a women's fragrance). In 2007, Swank starred in and executive produced Freedom Writer, a drama about a real-life teacher who inspired a California high school class.

Swank received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, January 8, 2007. Hers was the 2,325th star presented.

Swank developed potential health problems, including elevated mercury levels in her body, through certain preparations for her roles, including weight gain and loss for Boys Don't Cry and The Black Dahlia.

Swank married actor Chad Lowe, September 28, 1997. However, in January 2006, the couple separated. Swank announced in May 2006 that they were divorcing. In December 2006, Swank confirmed that she was dating John Campisi, her agent.