Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974 in Lincoln, Nebraska) is a two-time Oscar-winning American actress. She is best known for her performances as troubled trans man Brandon Teena in the movie Boys Don't Cry and as a waitress-turned-boxer in Million Dollar Baby; both roles earned her Academy Awards for Best Actress.

Her film career in Hollywood began with a small part in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) and then a major part in The Next Karate Kid (1994), where she played the title character, the first female protégée of the (by then) legendary sensei played by Pat Morita.