Growing up in a trailer park, this actress went against all odds to become one of the most respected and celebrated actresses in the business. Today, she is a two-time Academy Award winner, but her journey was far from easy.
This star’s life began in a small town, but she, along with her mother, Judy, moved to California and risked homelessness while she auditioned. But even after finding fame, her life wasn’t easy. She took a break from her career, found love after several failed relationships, and lost loved ones. Now her life is full of joy.
The actress with her father on an Instagram post, dated July 30, 2022 | Source: Instagram/hilaryswank
Growing Up
This actress’s early years were spent in Bellingham, Washington, where she lived in a trailer park. She often reflects on how some of her classmates were told not to associate with her because of where she came from.
“Yeah, I don’t know – they didn’t want their kids playing with me. I don’t know. I know it’s stupid. It’s so silly,” she said in an interview with CBS News.
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However, she wasn’t discouraged by the prejudice she faced. Instead, it fueled her determination to succeed. In fact, as she returned to her hometown years later, she encountered those same classmates who now claimed they had always believed in her success. She told them candidly, “No, you didn’t.”
Growing up in these circumstances, the actress found solace in performing. Eventually, she also realized that she would have to be strong to achieve her dream of becoming an actress.
“I was nine years old when one of my teachers had us write a skit and perform it in front of the class. That was my moment of, ‘My gosh, I love this,'” she recalled while talking to The Independent. In a report card, one teacher encouraged her to participate in school plays.
Although this star was also involved in swimming and gymnastics during her childhood, by the time she was 15, she had made up her mind that acting was her true calling.
That same year, she left high school and moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream. Although she eventually made it, being a high school dropout wasn’t something she was proud to reveal. Many people didn’t want her to stop her studies.
“I had some teachers that I still think of fondly and were amazing to me. But I had other teachers who said, ‘You know what? This dream of yours is a hobby,'” she said. However, the only encouragement that really mattered was her mother’s.
With her father, Stephen, often absent due to his service in the Air National Guard and later his work as a traveling salesman, this future star had only her mother, Judy, to rely on.
Her brother and only sibling, Daniel, had left their home in his teens, so it would soon be just her and her mother against the world. Judy was her greatest supporter.
“My mom said to me that I could do anything I wanted in life. As long as I worked hard enough,” the actress revealed. With that passion, they both started a hard journey to Hollywood.
This star was only 15 ½ years old when her parents got divorced. With the actress’ dream in mind, her mother packed their belongings and drove them to California with just $75.
They arrived in Los Angeles with no place to stay and had to live out of their old car for a short time. The star views this period as an adventure rather than a hardship. “For me, it was a dream come true. I was going to California to live my dream,” she said on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Fortunately, she and her mother weren’t homeless for long. They were eventually able to stay at a friend’s house, but the situation was far from ideal.
The house was empty, with no furniture, and they only had air mattresses. Additionally, they had to leave every morning, so buyers could see the place as the friend was selling the property. But this only brought this future star closer to her goal.
Those early years in Los Angeles were marked by perseverance and rejection. “It was nine years of really hitting the pavement,” she said. Auditioning multiple times a day, she would often change outfits in the trunk of her car to fit the different roles she was auditioning for.
Unfortunately, she was often turned down because of her appearance. “And I think that was one of the reasons why – I didn’t realize consciously I was doing it, but I think I was looking for roles that weren’t about appearance, that they were really about people,” this star admitted. Finally, her breakout role was in 1994 with “The Next Karate Kid.”
The actress and Pat Morita during the filming of “The Next Karate Kid” in 1994 | Source: Getty Images
Later, she went on to play small parts in TV shows and movies like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” But, at 23, she got a chance to star on “Beverly Hills 90210.”
While the part was small, it was a big deal. However, her time on the show was brief. She was fired, and this was the first time she considered quitting. “I thought if I’m not a good enough actor for 90210, maybe I should pack it in,” she confessed.
However, this setback led to a major turning point in her career. With her contract on the show over, she was free to take on other roles.
This led to her iconic performance in “Boys Don’t Cry” in 1999, where she played Brandon Teena, a transgender man whose tragic story captivated audiences. This role earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, a significant achievement for a young actress just starting out.
Surprisingly, she was only paid $3,000 for the project. “I had an Academy Award, and I didn’t have health insurance,” she laughed. “The life of an actor.”
The actress and her mother Judy during the 25th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards at the Wyndham Bel Age Hotel on January 19, 2000 in West Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
Earning Her Hollywood Place
This actress is the talented Hilary Swank. After “Boys Don’t Cry,” she starred in several films, building her resume and earning a great reputation. In 2004, she appeared in “Million Dollar Baby,” alongside Clint Eastwood. This role earned her a second Academy Award for Best Actress.
