The Real Reason Hilary Swank Took A Break From Acting

Not a lot of actors win two Academy Awards and then take a massive break from acting years later — but Hilary Swank did just that. The actor had her breakthrough role in 1994 while playing Julie in "The Next Karate Kid," the fourth film in the popular "Karate Kid" franchise. She then went on to play Carly Reynolds in "Beverly Hills, 90210." She won her first Academy Award in 1999 for her now-controversial role as Brandon Teena in "Boys Don't Cry."

At the time of its premiere, Swank's casting and performance in "Boys Don't Cry" was applauded, even by GLAAD (via The Guardian). But of course, with Swank being a cisgender woman and her character being a transgender man, the movie and Swank have garnered their fair share of criticism. Teena was a real person who suffered a brutal hate crime, and a lot of people thought Swank shouldn't have taken the role. Now, the actor understands. She also feels like "all genders should have the opportunity to audition for all types of roles" and is "honored" to be included in the conversation. But burgeoning criticism wasn't the reason Swank took a break from her career.

Back in 2014, Hilary Swank made the selfless decision to become a full-time caretaker for her father, Stephen Swank. He needed a lung transplant and so she took time off from acting. "I was saying yes to something else that I wanted to be a part of," Swank told The Guardian. But it was a longer endeavor than she thought it was going to be. In her 2020 interview with Health, Swank shared that it was only going to be one year off, "because it takes a year to see if an organ transplant takes." However, the lung is an "incredibly delicate organ." "I became my dad's health advocate," Swank explained. "One year quickly turned into two, and then three. And, thank God, prayers were answered. He is healthy and doing really well five-plus years later."

During that time off, in addition to taking care of her dad, she told InStyle that she "sought out new ways to be creative during that time." This included starting a charity organization called Hilaroo. Hilaroo takes kids in need and pairs them with a rescue dog or animal who has also been abandoned so that they have something to love and take care of. "It's extraordinary to see at-risk, under-served youth connect with these dogs," the actor told Health.

Hilary Swank's devotion to her father is very notable and tremendous. After going back to work as an actor in 2018, according to The Guardian, her dad was doing well. However, he died in October 2021 and the actor shared more about him on her Instagram. She wrote that she grew closer to him while being his caregiver and "[savored] every moment." "He will always remain one of my most favorite persons and not a day goes by that I don't miss him," she said. In 2015, Swank said that caring for her late father was an "honor" (via Entertainment Tonight).

Nearly a year later, though, Swank announced a very special "career" shift as well, one that she's "been wanting for a long time." Swank told Good Morning America that she was pregnant with twins on Oct. 5. "... I'm gonna be a mom. And not just of one, but of two. I can't believe it," the actor shared. But one fact that's possibly the most touching tribute to her late father is the babies' due date. The actor made an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show" and revealed that the twins are due on her late father's birthday. So even after his death, Swank has something (or two) to still remember him by.