Hilary Swank is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, she gave us masterpieces like Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don't Cry, and The Horseman. However, when the award-winning star decided to take a hiatus from acting, it left her fans wondering why. Swank later revealed that she took time off acting to care for her ailing dad. Aside from being her dad's sole caregiver, Hilary also found other ways to occupy her time.
Her time away from Hollywood, saw the actress starting her own charity. The Hilaroo Foundation was created to bring at-risk teenagers and abandoned dogs together in the hope that the two can heal each other. Swank also launched the Mission Statement 'luxury athleisure' line during her hiatus from Hollywood.
Her time away from acting did not derail her career though, she's back where she left off, proving why she's one of Hollywood's most sought after stars.
She Became Her Ailing Dad's Sole Caregiver
Hilary Swank is one of the most sought after actresses in Hollywood, she's worked exceedingly hard to be where she is now. It's hard to believe that at one point in her career, the star once took a role that only paid $3,000 - but she did! The two-time Academy Award winner rose to stardom after starring in the movie, Buffy The Vampire Slayer. She has enjoyed a long and successful Hollywood career over the years.
Fans were dumbfounded when the star took a three year hiatus from showbiz in 2014. Hilary later explained that she did so in order to care for her ailing father. In an interview with Health the star revealed, "It was supposed to be a year, because it takes a year to see if an organ transplant takes. A lung transplant is the most difficult of all, as it’s an incredibly delicate organ. "
She went on to add,"The plan was to take off a year. I became my dad’s health advocate. 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."
She Founded A Charity Called Hilaroo During Her Hiatus
During her time away from showbiz, Hilary's focus was her father but she also pursued other interests. She founded a charity called Hilaroo. The aim of the foundation is to pair at-risk youths with abandoned dogs, to help heal each other. Swank is a big-time animal lover who has four dogs that are all rescues.
As per In style, Hilaroo, "pairs at-risk youth with abandoned dogs to help heal and enrich the lives of all involved. As an avid animal lover and long-time advocate for pet adoption and rescue, Swank’s personal experience was the impetus for the organization, which is called Hilaroo — a portmanteau of Swank’s own name and that of one of her rescue dogs, Karoo, who has since passed away."
"Swank rescued Karoo on the set of the film Red Dust in South Africa, and the two shared such a profound relationship that Swank was moved to launch Hilaroo in 2015."
The charity foundation turned things around for the star. She came under fire from human rights groups in 2012 after attending a Chechen dictator's birthday party. Here's the catch: the star was paid a six-figure fee to attend the televised event. Following the criticism, Hilary apologized profusely and offered to donate the money to various charities.
She Also Launched An Athleisure Clothing Line
Besides founding Hilaroo, Hilary also launched a clothing line. The brand is called Mission Statement, it's a 'luxury athleisure' line. She's among scores of stars who have established other sources of income aside from acting. While some celebrities find success with their business, other celeb businesses crash and burn. Swank has seemingly found a formula that works for her. Her business has stood the test of time.
In an interview with Glamour, the actress revealed why she started Mission Statement. She said, "I wasn’t alone in wanting to have clothing that naturally transitioned from my workouts into my day."
"I think it’s important for the modern woman to have clothes that are multi-faceted and functional. Women need the ability to go from exercising straight to meetings, dropping the kids at school, or running errands. I couldn’t find something for that which didn't look like actual workout clothes—so I designed it."
Swank's father is well now, and the star re-entered the acting scene. The hiatus didn't derail her career at all. Upon her return to the big screen, Hilary starred in What We Had, the movie with was well-received and was met with rave reviews. She has proved that she has staying power and not even a hiatus can take her out of the game.