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Classy by name and nature, Hilary Swank turns 40

Hilary Swank is certainly living up to her name. The two-time Academy Award winner, animal lover and all-American gal is turning 40 years old and it's a good time to look at how far she has come.
Hillary Swank

Hilary Swank is certainly living up to her name. The two-time Academy Award winner, animal lover and all-American gal is turning 40 years old and it’s a good time to look at how far she has come.

Despite having the most recognisable check bones and shoulders in the world, Swank remains true to her humble beginnings, growing up in a trailer park in Washington State and at 15 living with her mother out of their car in Los Angeles.

She assiduously worked her way up in Hollywood, starting with a minor role in the nineties television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and finding her breakout lead role in The Next Karate Kid. But now she is known for her raw honesty and fearlessness onscreen, taken on roles that range from a young transgender adult in Boys Don’t Cry (Best Actress, 1999) a female boxer in Million Dollar Baby (Best Actress, 2004) and a determined single mother in Conviction.

Wishing Hilary Swank a very happy 40th birthday! We look forward to seeing what the next decade will bring.

Hillary Swank is turning 40 years old.

The two-time Academy Award winner has always stayed true to her humble beginnings.

That’s even though she “loves to dress up”. This stunning backless dress, which she wore to the 2004 Academy Awards where she won Best Actress for Million Dollar Baby, was universally deemed best outfit on the red carpet that year.

Hilary’s first Oscar came in 1999 for the film Boys Don’t Cry.

The film, based on a true story, is about a young transgender person in a small, conservative Nebraska town.

Swank is a versatile actress, making a beautiful female lead in romantic dramas such as tearjerker PS I Love You …

and a convincing tough female boxer in Million Dollar Baby.

Arriving for the screening of The Homesman at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

Sharing a wardrobe with her long-time partner, Chad Lowe, in 1994.

She played Julie Pierce In The Next Karate Kid in 1994.

Lighting up the red carpet at the Met Gala in 2012.

Attending the IIFA Awards in Canada in 2011.

Swank just started tweeting recently and posts wonderfully candid images and captions. This one was “#ILoveSummer!!!!”

“Love #hiking!! #OneofMyFavoriteThings”

“Rockin’ my sombrero at the #RosebowlFleaMarket”

Hilary even uploaded pictures of herself learning to surf.

“I’m blessed to be able to travel the world. I have learned so much about people, recognizing our sameness and celebrating our differences. #AllOnePeople #Berlin #BerlinWall”

“#CannesFilmFestival #TommyLeeJones and me @ the top of the #RedCarpet in #Cannes #Surreal!”

“Oops, busted between matches at #TheParisOpen making myself #AtHome in the president’s lounge!”

The Petco Foundation honoured Swank this year for her work in animal rescue and commitment to animal advocacy.

She tweeted: “Last night seemed the perfect moment to start tweeting b/c it was such an incredible and momentous moment in my life”.

“Learning to fly”.

“#HangingWithMyHomie”.

“My driver, #Rumi Can’t wait to see all the places we’ll go!”

“#HappyIndependenceDay! We are #blessed with our #freedom. Don’t ever take it for granted.”

Hilary Swank at the Marc Cain show during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin, Germany earlier this month.

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