Hilary Swank Pushes Back at Critics After Revealing She’s Expecting a Baby at 52

Hilary Swank says she has faced criticism over becoming a mother later in life, and argues that women are judged by a different standard than men. The Oscar-winning actress recently announced that she is expecting another baby with her husband, entrepreneur Phillip Schneider. Swank shared the news on social media with a playful nod to the questions about her next project: “This one releases in December.” Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show shortly after the announcement, Swank spoke about the reaction to older women having children. “There’s a lot of backlash women get for having children older, but not men,” she said. Barrymore, a mother of two daughters, agreed that the double standard was “weird.” Swank also recalled a hurtful exchange from 2023, when she welcomed twins Aya and Ohm at the age of 48. She said a woman challenged her decision, telling her, “How dare you? You’re too old.” The woman explained that she had lost her father in her twenties and described him as her favourite person. Swank said she understood the pain of losing a parent, having also lost her father, and reflected on what the criticism meant to her. The actress said the conversation helped her see the question differently: she would rather have the chance to know and love a parent, even if that parent had become one later, than miss out on the experience altogether. Swank has spoken before about wanting children but focusing on her career for years. She said becoming a mother later has allowed her more time and patience to be present for her children. Swank married Schneider in 2018, and the couple welcomed their twins five years later. She was previously married to actor and director Chad Lowe; they divorced in 2007. The latest pregnancy announcement has brought fresh attention to Swank’s experience, but she says the criticism overlooks the choices and circumstances behind each family’s story.