Watch Hilary Swank Online

The Next Karate Kid is a 1994 film starring Hilary Swank and Pat Morita. It is the fourth and final movie in the Karate Kid series. In September 1997, Swank was cast as single mother Carly Reynolds on Beverly Hills, 90210. She was initially promised it would be a two-year role, but saw her character written out after 16 episodes in January 1998. Swank later said that she was devastated at being cut from the show, thinking, "If I'm not good enough for 90210, I'm not good enough for anything."

As it turned out, the firing was a lucky break for Swank, freeing her to audition for the role of Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry. Swank reduced her body fat to seven percent in preparation for the role.[9] Many critics hailed hers as the best female performance of 1999; her co-star, Chloë Sevigny, had her performance singled out as well. Swank's 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

Swank's success meant that she had joined the ranks of Vivien Leigh, Helen Hayes, Sally Field, and Luise Rainer as the only actresses to have been nominated for Academy Awards twice and win both times. She is the third-youngest double Best Actress winner (after Rainer and Jodie Foster). After winning her second Oscar, she said, "I don't know what I did in this life to deserve this. I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream." Swank had earned only $75 per day for her work on Boys Don't Cry, culminating in a total of $3,000. Her earnings were so low, that (according to an anecdote on 60 Minutes) she had not even earned enough to qualify for health insurance.

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 Writers, a drama about a real-life teacher who inspired a California high school class. Many reviews of Swank's performance were positive, with one critic noting that she "brings credibility" to the role and another stating that her performance reaches a "singular lack of artifice, stripping herself back to the bare essentials".

Swank starred in The Reaping, a horror film released on April 5, 2007, in which she plays a debunker of religious phenomena. Swank convinced the producers to move the film's setting from New England to the Deep South, and the movie was being filmed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when Hurricane Katrina struck. Swank also appeared in the romantic comedy P.S. I Love You alongside Gerard Butler, an actor for whom she has much praise.It was released at the end of 2007.

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

Variety online reported in February 2008, that Swank would be portraying Amelia Earhart, and be co-executive producer for a biopic titled Amelia. Filming occurred in the summer of 2008 in a number of international locations. Swank is also attached to star in the Hollywood remake version of Intimate Strangers.

Named one of "People" magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2000, 2004 and 2005.

Cut off all of her hair and lived as a boy for a month to prepare her for her role as Teena Brandon in Boys Don't Cry (1999).

Ex-sister-in-law of Rob Lowe.

She won the lead role of Brandon/Teena in Boys Don't Cry (1999) after hundreds of other actresses had been considered and rejected over the course of three years. Told director Kimberly Peirce that, like her character, she was also 21 and hailed from Lincoln, Nebraska. But she was fibbing, and when Peirce later confronted her with the lies, she winningly responded: "But that's what Brandon would do."

Has been acting professionally since she was 16.

Has a parrot and a cat named Tallinn.

Competed in the Junior Olympics and Washington state championships in swimming; ranked fifth in the state in all-around gymnastics.

Discovered as a young child actor by producer Suzy Sachs.

Met her ex-husband Chad Lowe on set of Quiet Days in Hollywood (1997), married after 5-month relationship.

Mother Judy Swank moved with her to LA area at age 16, where, impoverished for a while, they lived out of their car.

Earned $75 a day for Boys Don't Cry (1999).

Auditioned for the role of Lucy Hatcher on the television series "The Practice" (1997).

Is of Spanish and Native American heritage.

Hilary's 20th birthday party was a 1974 themed party and was held in Hollywood at The Crush Bar.

She and husband moved into a 4-story brownstone home in Greenwich Village (NYC) they bought for $4 million. (June, 2002)

Ex-sister-in-law of makeup artist Sheryl Berkoff.

Although she was naturally athletic from high school, she totally changed physically to play Maggie in Million Dollar Baby (2004). She gained nearly 20 pounds, becoming so buff that her former clothes are still too small for her.

Attended Santa Monica College.

First woman to win an Oscar in a role as a boxer.

Is the third youngest actress to win 2 Best Actress Academy Awards. Luise Rainer and Jodie Foster were the first and second, respectively.

Joined Vivien Leigh, Helen Hayes, Sally Field and Luise Rainer as the only actresses with a perfect track record at the Oscars: Two nominations and two wins.

Fined NZ$200 (AUD$190) for bringing undeclared fruit into New Zealand. She was found with an apple and orange at New Zealand's Auckland International Airport. She has since contested the fine (15 January 2005).

Grew up in Bellingham, Washington, where she went to Sehome High School.

Both of her Oscar-winning roles required huge physical changes.

Though she's known for her dramatic work, she starred in several sitcom pilots for CBS that never amounted to much.

Has 2 dogs: Karoo, a Corgi/Jack Russell mix, and Lucky, a German Shepherd/Labarador Retriever mix.

Announced in January 2006 that she and her husband Chad Lowe are separating after 8 years of marriage.

Her performance as "Brandon Teena" in Boys Don't Cry (1999) is ranked #83 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

Replaced Sandra Bullock as "Maggie Fitzgerald" in Million Dollar Baby (2004) after Bullock dropped out for other commitments.

Is a vegetarian.

Studies acting with Larry Moss.

Received a cut on the forehead during filming a scene of her movie P.S. I Love You (2007). She had to be brought to a hospital and received several stitches (November 2006).

Awarded an Emery Award for her role in Boys Don't Cry (1999) (November 2006).

For a few weeks before Boys Don't Cry (1999) began filming, she went out in public dressed as a boy. Many were fooled by the disguise.

Was declared #6 on the show "Hollywood's Ten Best Beauty to Beast" transformations for the way she looked in Boys Don't Cry (1999). Three other actresses on the list were nominated for Oscars for their movies and two won: Charlize Theron (Monster (2003)), Halle Berry (Monster's Ball (2001)) and Salma Hayek (Frida (2002)).

Received the 2,325th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (8 January 2007).

Made her film debut in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992).

Considers herself a spiritual person, although she isn't member of an organized religion.

Her longtime companion has been her agent John Campisi since December 2006.

Born to Stephen Swank, a Air National Guard officer, and his then wife Judy Swank, née Clough, a secretary and dancer, she has a brother, Dan.

Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2008 Razzie Award nominating ballot. She was suggested in the Worst Actress category for her performances in the films P.S. I Love You (2007) and The Reaping (2007). She failed to receive a nomination however.

As of 2008, she is only one of six actors who have a 2-0 winning record when nominated for an acting Oscar. The others are Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937); Vivien Leigh for Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); Helen Hayes for The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) and Airport (1970); Sally Field for Norma Rae (1979) and Places in the Heart (1984); and Kevin Spacey for The Usual Suspects (1995) and American Beauty (1999).

Betty Anne Waters (2009) (pre-production) .... Betty Ann Waters

Amelia (2009) (post-production) .... Amelia Earhart

Birds of America (2008) .... Laura

P.S. I Love You (2007) .... Holly

The Reaping (2007) .... Katherine

Freedom Writers (2007) .... Erin Gruwell

The Black Dahlia (2006) .... Madeleine Linscott

Million Dollar Baby (2004) .... Maggie Fitzgerald

Red Dust (2004) .... Sarah Barcant

Iron Jawed Angels (2004) (TV) .... Alice Paul

11:14 (2003) .... Buzzy

The Core (2003) .... Maj. Rebecca Childs

The Space Between (2002)

Insomnia (2002/I) .... Detective Ellie Burr

The Affair of the Necklace (2001) .... Jeanne St. Remy de Valois

The Gift (2000) .... Valerie Barksdale

The Audition (2000)

Boys Don't Cry (1999) .... Brandon Teena

Beverly Hills, 90210 .... Carly Reynolds (16 episodes, 1997-1998)

Heartwood (1998) .... Sylvia Orsini

Quiet Days in Hollywood (1997) .... Lolita

Leaving L.A. .... Tiffany Roebuck (6 episodes, 1997)

The Sleepwalker Killing (1997) (TV) .... Lauren Schall

Dying to Belong (1997) (TV) .... Lisa Connors

Sometimes They Come Back... Again (1996) (V) .... Michelle Porter

Terror in the Family (1996) (TV) .... Deena Martin

Kounterfeit (1996) .... Colleen

The Next Karate Kid (1994) .... Julie Pierce

Cries Unheard: The Donna Yaklich Story (1994) (TV) .... Patty Yaklich

Camp Wilder .... Danielle (1 episode, 1992)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) .... Kimberly

Growing Pains .... Sasha Serotsky (2 episodes, 1991-1992)

Evening Shade .... Aimee #1 (2 episodes, 1991-1992)

Harry and the Hendersons (1 episode, 1991)

ABC TGIF (1990) TV series .... Danielle

Academy Awards, USA

2005 Won Oscar Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

2000 Won Oscar Best Actress in a Leading Role for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

2001 Nominated Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress for: The Gift (2000)

BAFTA Awards

2001 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Boston Society of Film Critics Awards

2004 Won BSFC Award Best Actress for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

1999 Won BSFC Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

2005 Won Critics Choice Award Best Actress for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

2000 Won Critics Choice Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Central Ohio Film Critics Association

2005 Won COFCA Award Best Lead Performance for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

2000 Won CFCA Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Chicago International Film Festival

1999 Won Silver Hugo Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Chlotrudis Awards

2000 Won Chlotrudis Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

DVD Exclusive Awards

2006 Nominated DVDX Award Best Actress (in a DVD Premiere Movie) for: 11:14 (2003)

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards

2005 Won DFWFCA Award Best Actress for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

2000 Won DFWFCA Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Empire Awards, UK

2006 Nominated Empire Award Best Actress for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

2003 Nominated Empire Award Best Actress for: Insomnia (2002/I)

2001 Nominated Empire Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

2004 Won FFCC Award Best Actress for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

2000 Won FFCC Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Gijón International Film Festival

1999 Won Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Golden Camera, Germany

2008 Won Golden Camera Best Actress International

Golden Globes, USA

2005 Won Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for: Iron Jawed Angels (2004) (TV)

2000 Won Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Independent Spirit Awards

2000 Won Independent Spirit Award Best Female Lead for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Irish Film and Television Awards

2008 Won Audience Award Best International Actress for: P.S. I Love You (2007)

Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards

2005 Won KCFCC Award Best Actress for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards

2000 Won Sierra Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Most Promising Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

London Critics Circle Film Awards

2001 Nominated ALFS Award Actress of the Year for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

1999 Won LAFCA Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

MTV Movie Awards

2005 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Female Performance for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

2000 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Kiss for: Boys Don't Cry (1999) Shared with: Chloë Sevigny

Breakthrough Female Performance for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Molodist International Film Festival

2000 Won Festival Diploma Best Full-Length Fiction Film for: Boys Don't Cry (1999) Shared with: Kimberly Peirce With a special distinction to the outstanding performance by Hilary Swank.

National Board of Review, USA

1999 Won NBR Award Breakthrough Performance - Female for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA

2005 Won NSFC Award Best Actress for: Million Dollar Baby (2004) Tied with Imelda Staunton for Vera Drake (2004).

New York Film Critics Circle Awards

1999 Won NYFCC Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Online Film Critics Society Awards

2005 Nominated OFCS Award Best Actress for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

2000 Nominated OFCS Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

2004 Won PFCS Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Sant Jordi Awards

2006 Won Sant Jordi Best Foreign Actress (Mejor Actriz Extranjera) for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Santa Fe Film Critics Circle Awards

2000 Won SFFCC Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Satellite Awards

2005 Won Golden Satellite Award Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

2000 Won Golden Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Screen Actors Guild Awards

2005 Won Actor Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for: Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for: Million Dollar Baby (2004) Shared with: Clint Eastwood Morgan Freeman

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for: Iron Jawed Angels (2004) (TV)

2000 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

ShoWest Convention, USA

2000 - ShoWest Award Female Star of Tomorrow

Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards

2000 Won SEFCA Award Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Stockholm Film Festival

1999 Won Best Actress for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

TV Land Awards

2006 Won TV Land Award Little Screen/Big Screen Star (Women)

Teen Choice Awards

2000 Nominated Teen Choice Award Film - Choice Breakout Performance for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

1999 Won TFCA Award Best Performance, Female for: Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Walk of Fame

2007 - Star on the Walk of Fame Motion Picture On 8 January 2007. At 6925 Hollywood Blvd.

Young Artist Awards

1993 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a New Television Series for: "Camp Wilder" (1992)