Hilary Swank Reveals Hollywood\’s \”Patriarchal\” Struggle: \”I Refuse to Conform to Femininity\”

Hilary Swank is speaking out about the difficulties she faced as a young actress in an industry dominated by men.

During a recent interview with
Women\’s Heath
The \”Million Dollar Baby\” actress mentioned that during the early stages of her career, Hollywood was \”more patriarchal than ever,\” making it challenging for her to completely immerse herself in her characters.

Fortunately, things are getting more inclusive now,\” Swank stated. \”However, when I began my career, it was extremely patriarchal. So, I ended up portraying characters scripted by men interpreting a woman’s perspective, which didn’t always reflect reality accurately.

She mentioned, \’It’s not that I dislike being feminine. It’s just that I don’t appreciate being dictated on how to embrace my femininity.\’

A twice-Oscar-winning actress, Swank received her initial Academy Award for portraying the lead character in 1999’s “ Boys Don’t Cry,” where she depicted a transgender teenager attempting to cope with life in a small town in Nebraska. She secured her second Oscar in 2004 for her performance in \”Million Dollar Baby.” Here, Swank played an aspiring boxer mentored by an older trainer, acted by Clint Eastwood.

When questioned about winning her first Academy Award at age 25, Swank described it as being “as though I had been fired from a cannon.” She further commented that if she could advise her younger self, she might say, \”\’Just pause for a moment.\’\” She believes one should contemplate the decisions made daily. It’s crucial to ensure that actions align with personal desires since those choices represent our control over each day. To her, time equates to life.