Many Hilary Swank fans recall the actress's epic performance in 'Million Dollar Baby.' And though the film earned her quite the reputation as a serious actress, that wasn't the movie that really got her noticed.
Instead, Hilary joined the ranks of one of many celebs whose best performances didn't earn them much money (or attention) at all. She didn't exactly fly under the radar; a couple of high-profile awards drew attention to her work. But, the film that thrust her into the spotlight wasn't a blockbuster.
Now, though, the actress's low starting wage hardly matters; Swank currently has a net worth of $60 million, confirms Celebrity Net Worth. She's amounted that impressive figure through work on a long list of notable films, all with characters that she executed perfectly.
It's true that Hilary did take some time off from acting, but it was for a good reason. And clearly, the time off didn't affect her net worth. But let's throw it back to when Hilary was making an average person's salary for her day job.
In an almost-20-year-old article, The Guardian nonchalantly comments that Hilary was paid $3,000 for her role in 'Boys Don't Cry.' Apparently, that amount was spread out in $75 increments per day of filming. The thing was, that movie marked a turning point in Swank's career (and earnings).
For fans who haven't seen 1999's biopic 'Boys Don't Cry,' Hilary totally earned her Oscar. She portrayed a transgender man, an interpretation of the real-life person Brandon Teena. While Teena's story ended tragically (he passed away in the same tragic manner the film depicts), the film did take some license with the story overall.
And of course, activists today would probably find an issue with the fact that Hilary played a trans man; the actress herself has said as much, reported The Independent.
Regardless, Swank's acting was what drew attention in the '90s, even though the project was controversial. It seems like Hilary couldn't care less, though, and that probably explains why she was willing to take such a low paycheck for her work. She even lived "as a man" for a month to portray Brandon as accurately as possible.
Clearly, the project meant something to her, and that speaks volumes about who Hilary Swank is as an actress and a human being.
Thanks to this small film, Hilary soon earned the attention of big names in Hollywood. Her next project involved a role in a piece written by Billy Bob Thornton, and next came a film with Chad Lowe (her then-husband) and Brittany Murphy.
Then, in 'Insomnia,' she starred alongside Al Pacino, a serious accomplishment for someone who a few years prior was earning pennies for her Oscar-winning acting chops.