Actress Hilary Swank has had a unique career. After landing a few television roles and facing setbacks both professionally and personally, the star gained critical acclaim in the 1999 role, Boys Don’t Cry, playing a transgender man.
As a teenager, she lived with her mother in their car for a time, until her mother could afford to pay the rent on an apartment and her drive to be successful was forever cemented in the struggles her family faced.
Personal circumstances aside, fans seem to be drawn to Swank’s deep-rooted skill, versus ‘pretty girl’ roles and romantic comedies.
Recently, Swank has captured headlines, not for her next acting role, but for her pregnancy with twins at 48 years old. With a net worth of $70 million, it’s safe to say she can take a short break as she looks after her infant boy and girl with husband, entrepreneur Philip Schneider.
Check out her highest grossing films to date.
10 Boys Don’t Cry – $11.5 Million
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It didn’t make it big at the box office, however, the 1999 film sparked Swank’s career and earned her the first nomination and win for a Golden Globe and Academy Award for the role. Swank tends to gravitate toward biography films and played a young man, Brandon Teena who navigates life in Nebraska as a transgender male.
9 The Gift – $12 Million
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In 2000, Swank took the role of Valerie Barksdale, an abused woman and sister of a man falsely accused of murder. Cate Blanchett plays a fortune teller with the uncanny ability to help find the woman alongside other well-known actors like Katie Holmes, Keanu Reeves and Giovanni Ribisi. The screenplay was written by actor Billy Bob Thorton and Tom Epperson, based on the alleged psychic experiences of Thornton’s mother. Despite a stellar cast, reviews were not overwhelmingly positive and audiences didn’t flock to the theaters for this one.
8 Amelia – $14 Million
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Swank plays the famous pilot Amelia Earhart opposite Richard Gere in a biographical film and story that has captured the nation. She earned critical acclaim as her portrayal of the legendary life of the woman who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937.
7 The Black Dahlia – $22.5 Million
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The film is based on the true story of the 1947 murder of aspiring actress, Elizabeth Short. The film stars Swank as a fellow young woman navigating the rough neighborhoods of Los Angeles in the late 40’s alongside Josh Hartnett, Aaron Eckhart and Scarlett Johansson. While the role lends to Swank’s love for biographical material, fans were also surprised to find her in a unique role as a character with bright makeup and attire one might find in a brothel.
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6 Logan Lucky – $28 Million
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Swank plays Special Agent Sarah Grayson, assigned to investigate a robbery in a film starring Channing Tatum and Adam Driver as they attempt to pull off a profitable heist during a NASCAR event in North Carolina. The 2017 film also stars Daniel Craig, Katie Holmes, Riley Keough and Seth MacFarlane in an action comedy that caught fans off guard.
5 Freedom Writers – $36.6 Million
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The 2007 film based on the true story of Erin Gruwell of Long Beach, CA, starred Swank as a young teacher working with at-risk students and her path to inspire them and encourage a future of education beyond high school. She plays opposite a young Patrick Dempsey and receives positive reviews for the role.
4 P.S. I Love You – $54 Million
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In one of Swank’s few rom com’s to date, she stars as a young widow who discovers her late husband has left messages for her, intended to prompt her to heal and restart her life. The project was packed with recognizable faces, such as Gerard Butler, Harry Connick Jr. and Lisa Kudrow to name a few and fans enjoyed seeing Swank in the softer role.
3 New Year’s Eve – $55 Million
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In the Garry Marshall directed film with a star-studded cast, Swank joins Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher and Michelle Pfeiffer among others to walk through the lives of couples and singles in New York City on the popular holiday. According to IMDB, Swank plays the role of a television reporter on the evening of the big night, sharing everyone else’s experiences with the world, except her own.
2 Insomnia – $67 Million
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Another star-studded film includes Al Pacino and Robin Williams as two homicide detectives sent to Alaska, where the sun never sets, to investigate the murder of a local teen. Swank plays Ellie Burr, a young cop from a sleepy town, working with Pacino and Williams to solve the crime and learning tips from the veteran detectives along the way. According to Screenrant, the film is a Christopher Nolan directed remake of the 1997 Norwegian film of the same name.
1 Million Dollar Baby – $100.5 Million
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In perhaps her most successful role to date, Swank starred alongside Hollywood A-listers Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman as a woman who become a professional boxer. Her role as Maggie Fitzgerald earned the actress a Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Actress. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the recognition came directly after her role in Boys Don’t Cry, making her one of very few actresses to win twice in a row following just two nominations.
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Sources: IMDB, Screenrant, Celebrity Net Worth
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