AYA * Its fascinating to see just how
diverse the Oscars Leading Ladies are. Definitely not ethnically and racially. However as we
progress through this series we watch the rise to fame of all of these wonderful women and that some
have had a not so priviliged upbringing, proving that talent cannot be bought or inherited. Major
Hollywood stars come from all walks of life; like Hilary Swank for example. And her troubled past
certainly has poured into her troubled characters on screen. Hilary Swanks Oscar winning roles could
not be more polar to the previous years winner Gwyneth Paltrow who won her Oscar for playing
a romantic character who comes from wealth and prominence and Swank’s from rags and oppression.*
AYA Swank, along with her troubled,
jobless yet supportive mother, dropped out of high school and drove all the way to LA
from Washington State, where they lived in a trailer, in order to get Swank some auditions.
The duo managed to get Swank a seemingly never-ending lineup of failed auditions while
living out of their car or couch surfing. Swank finally secured her first film role in 1992 film
Buffy The Vampire Slayer and then the 1994 film The Next Karate Kid. Swank was always athletic and
active so she was inclined for more physical roles. Swank always felt like an outsider;
always bullied no matter where she lived. She felt that acting was her escape and therapy.
Acting was also simply a meal ticket for her and her mother. Swank met her first husband on set of
the 1997 film Quiet Days In Hollywood. (MORE)
AYA (CONT'D) * In a span of 7 years since
Swank’s film debut, she appeared in her most famous role ever: 1999’s Boys Don’t Cry, based
on the true story of Brandon Teena. Swank played a young trans man in crime infested Nebraska.
With a $2 million budget, Swank got paid only $3000 overall. She did a full transformation to
sound, look and act like Brandon Teena. Boys Don’t Cry was directed by Kimberly Peirce and this was
her feature film debut. This film was a breakout LGBT film as well as Swank’s breakout role. She
won the Best Actress Oscar at the 2000 ceremony.* Some speculated that she got the “Oscar Curse.”
Basically when an Oscar winner faced low quality roles or starred in films that did
not gain success after their Oscar win. But Swank demonstrated that this was not the case in 2004.
She starred in her second most prominent film role in Clint Eastwood’s directorial called
Million Dollar Baby. Once again Swank got physical for this role and played an aspiring trailer trash
boxer. AYA
Once again Swank starred in such a serious and heartfelt role.
Much like Boys Don’t Cry, Swank gave a heart wrenching performance with a tragic ending.
And for this performance Swank triumphed at the 2005 Oscars with a Best Actress Oscar.
AYA Swank appeared in a variety of
films like Black Dahlia, PS I Love You and The Resident. Furthermore,
she has executive produced and starred in four films: Amelia, Conviction, You’re Not You
and What They Had. 2.
AYA * Hilary Swank may not fit into
every female lead mould, but the roles she has flourished deserve a round of applause.
Only 13 other Actresses have the title of being a two time Best Actress Oscar recipient. Hilary
Swank’s Oscars wins are truly so well deserved.* 3.