Swank came to international recognition for her performances as Brandon Teena in Kimberly Peirce's Boys Don't Cry (1999) and as Maggie Fitzgerald in Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby (2004).

Her mother, Judy Kay (née Clough),[1] was a secretary and dancer, and her father, Stephen Michael Swank, was a Chief Master Sergeant in the Oregon Air National Guard and later a traveling salesman.

[2] Her maternal grandmother, Frances Martha Clough (née Domínguez), was born in El Centro, California, and was of Mexican descent.

[3][4][5] Swank's paternal grandmother was born in England; her other ancestry includes Dutch, German, Ulster-Scots, Scottish, Swiss, and Welsh.

"[12] Swank made her film debut in the 1992 comedy horror film Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing a supporting role, after which she acted in the direct-to-video drama Quiet Days in Hollywood, where she co-starred with Chad Lowe, to whom she was married from 1997 to 2007.

In September 1997, Swank played single mother Carly Reynolds in Beverly Hills, 90210 and was initially promised it would be a two-year role, but saw her character written out after 16 episodes in January 1998.

"[14] The firing from Beverly Hills, 90210 freed her to audition for the role of Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry.

"[19][20] Swank again won the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for playing a female boxer in Clint Eastwood's 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, a role for which she underwent extensive training in the ring and weight room, aided by professional trainer Grant L. Roberts, gaining 19 pounds of muscle.

[31] In 2012, Swank's audiobook recording of Caroline Knapp's Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs was released at Audible.com.

[33] In 2014, Swank played the lead role of Kate Parker, a woman whose life is shattered when she develops the degenerative disease ALS, in You're Not You.

[34] In 2017, she appeared in Steven Soderbergh's heist comedy Logan Lucky, as Special Agent Sarah Grayson, alongside Channing Tatum and Daniel Craig,[35] and portrayed lawyer Colette Hughes in Bille August's drama film 55 Steps.

In 2018, Swank starred in and executive produced the Alzheimer's disease drama film What They Had, directed by Elizabeth Chomko.

[37] Swank was reported to star as Laura Murphy in Alejandro González Iñárritu's drama series The One Percent.

[40] In September 2020, Swank portrayed Emma, an astronaut, in the Netflix science drama series Away, which was canceled after one season.

[43][44][45] The collection includes jackets, tops, dresses, bottoms, sports bras and sweaters that are made of eco-friendly technical fabrics, priced from $125 to $1,150.

"[47] The brand works with suppliers that follow strict environmental policies and sustainable production practices.

[50] Swank participated in Pantene's Million Inch Chain program by cutting her hair and donating it.

[53][54] In 2014, The Petco Foundation honored Swank for her animal advocacy work and, in 2015, she received the Compassion Award by ASPCA.

[55][56][57] Also in 2015, Swank founded a nonprofit organization, the Hilaroo Foundation, which aims to bring at-risk teenagers and rescue dogs together in the hope that the two can heal each other.

[69] In a 2020 interview with Health, Swank revealed that she took a three-year break from acting beginning in 2014 to help her father recover from a lung transplant.

[70][71] She has been good friends with actress Mariska Hargitay after meeting on the set of television series ER.

[77] On March 22, 2016, Swank announced her engagement to Rubén Torres, a financial advisor with UBS and former professional tennis player.