Hilary Swank play a new character on the third season of Yellowjackets, the finale of which just aired a few days ago. I quit Yellowjackets at the end of last season because I find the writing uneven, but it’s still getting a lot of buzz and many people enjoy it. Hilary welcomed twins about two years ago at 48, using eggs she froze about 10 years prior. She’s been open about her journey to being a mom. Hilary has been married to Philip Schneider for about seven years and they live in Colorado and Washington. In a new interview with Health Magazine, she talked about her family, her fitness and nutrition. I like how open she is about her privilege and how she acknowledges that not everyone has the same options.
On her start in Hollywood and how it’s evolved
“Thankfully, it’s becoming more inclusive. But when I started, it was more patriarchal than ever,” Hilary says. “And so I was playing roles that were written by men from what a female point of view is, and it wasn’t necessarily true.” Hilary saw her path forward with roles that spoke to a different type of character: complex and often physically strong and transformative. “It’s not that I don’t like being feminine—I just don’t like being told how to be feminine.”On becoming a mom later in life
“I would have had kids earlier. I’m not saying I actively waited until 47,” she says. “But that was a magical time in my life, when it all culminated. It was the right time for a myriad of reasons.”“Thankfully, I had that ability to freeze eggs for later,” she says, emphasizing that a lot of companies and insurance plans are helping to pay for the process now—and if you can, she says, do it. “It takes some of the pressure off.”
How she is as a mom
“I’m a very different parent than I would’ve been, even in my early 40s,” she says. “I’m much more patient. I’m much more understanding. I am much more, I think, interested in a different way than I would’ve been. I’m really interested in their brains. I’m fascinated about what makes them tick. And I have my career that’s already established, so I’m not divided. I’m able to really sink in and be present with them and be a hands-on parent.”On being her father’s caregiver after his stroke (he passed in 2021)
“You don’t realize how well everything’s going until you don’t have your health,” she says. “It was a strong reminder that I haven’t forgotten—to not take health for granted and to be as diligent as possible about learning all there is to learn about what goes in and on my body.”On her fitness routine
“Right now, my go-to is tennis and Pilates. Tennis is a big thing. I used to do three days a week of strength training. For me, I love lifting. It just makes me feel really grounded in my body.” She stops me here, looking for her phone. “I’m actually building a gym in my garage, and I just got a piece of equipment I’m really excited about.” She’s grinning, and it’s easy to see how much she thrives on challenging movement. The equipment is the AmStaff Fitness SD-5000 All-In-One Smith Machine, a heavy-duty at-home strength machine.“I’m really blessed that I have that ability to [work out how I want], because I realize that a lot of people can’t.” In terms of her eating habits, Hilary is dairy-free and doesn’t consume a ton of meat (“I eat fish, and my neighbors hunt elk, and I do eat some of that”), but she doesn’t stick to one way of eating. She’ focused on giving her body what it needs. “It’s one of the key things I keep in mind—eating to fuel your body, what makes you feel good and what gives you energy,” she says.
On how she recharges
“I have five dogs,” she says, looking over at Moon, who is lazing in the sun. “I have two horses. Nature is such a fundamental part of who I am. Thankfully, I grew up in nature. For me, it’s in my DNA, it’s in my marrow, and I would not be the same person without it. And so I have to be in nature every day in some facet or another. And where I live is so perfect for that. I have a lake right in front of me and a forest in my backyard. That’s my recharge.”
There’s more in the interview about Hilary’s diet. She’s switched from eating mercury-heavy tuna to sardines, which sounds gross but they’re tolerable in a Ceasar salad. It’s good advice to eat less tuna, and that’s coming from someone who loves it. Her advice to get out in nature and to cherish your health also really resonated with me. I’m finally getting my health back after surgery and there’s nothing quite like going on a hike through the woods with my dog. I’m glad to see Hilary thriving, both personally and in her career. She’s so down to earth and she comes across as an actor’s actor, not seeking validation and being open about some things while guarding her personal life. She reminds me a little of Jessica Chastain in that way.
Photos via Instagram/Women’s Health and credit Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
Why exactly are sardines gross? There’s a myriad of tinned fishies out there now, and fancy sardines are a big part of it. Another option for low-mercury is mackerel (Patagonia Provisions has yummy ones).
Enjoyed this – she has seemed to go quiet in recent years. Cheers for the non-royal content!