Hilary Ann Swank was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on July 30, 1974. She grew up in Bellingham, Washington and as a child, devoted much of her time to athletic pursuits. Swank swam in the Junior Olympics, state championships and ranked fifth in her state for gymnastics. At the age of sixteen, Swank moved to Los Angeles to realize her dream of becoming an actress.

Her first notable screen credit was as the sidekick in the feature film, Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1992. Two years later, she earned a modicum of fame when she was chosen to star in The Next Karate Kid, a critical and box-office failure.

Swank appeared in a number of minor films subsequent to the film and gained recognition on Beverly Hills, 90210 for a season, as Steve's (Ian Ziering) girlfriend Carly. In 1999, Swank found a role that would change her life forever in the independent drama Boys Don't Cry. Based on the story of Teena Brandon, a woman whose decision to lead her life as a man met with dire consequences, Boys Don't Cry was a runaway success. Particular praise went to Swank for her stunning performance, for which she won a Golden Globe and Academy Award. Subsequent projects included The Gift, The Affair of the Necklace, the science fiction vehicle The Core, and the thriller Insomnia, with Al Pacinoand Robin Williams.