Hilary Swank, 52, Reveals How She Kept Her Pregnancy a Secret Until Third Trimester
The Oscar-winning actress credits the discretion of her small-town community and her private nature for maintaining secrecy.
Hilary Swank, 52, has shared how she managed to conceal her pregnancy until she was seven months along, attributing the success to the respectfulness of her community and her personal preference for privacy.
During an appearance on the "Question Everything" podcast, Swank noted that she lives in a small town where she grew up, and the residents have been "so respectful of my privacy and it hasn't leaked." She added that she did not have to remain home or hide her baby bump, as she continued working until approximately 17 weeks into her pregnancy. Those on set were also unaware of her condition.
Swank, who welcomed twins Aya and Ohm in April 2023 at age 48, announced her current pregnancy via Instagram. She explained that she waited to share the news because she is a "private person" and felt there was "no reason to really, I don't know, say anything."
Regarding her pregnancy later in life, Swank stated, "This was the right time for me." She elaborated that while people have personal timelines, conception is not always within one's control. She expressed excitement, feeling that it was a good time to devote herself to her children now that her career, which she described as her "baby," is established.
Swank previously told People magazine that she always desired motherhood but that circumstances led to her having children later in life. She believes being an older mother has made her more patient, understanding, and present.
She also revealed in an interview with Women's Health that she froze her eggs at age 37, which she considers one of the most important steps she took to prepare for motherhood, as it "takes some of the pressure off."
Swank, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2005 for her role in "Million Dollar Baby," married her husband, Philip Schneider, in 2018. She announced her pregnancy with a video on Instagram, using a TikTok dance trend where glowing stick figures were used to reveal the news, with a small figure over her belly indicating the pregnancy.