Hilary Swank Straps It On and Finds Stardom
An interview with the star of "Boys Don't Cry"
by Brandon Judell
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Even the most straight-laced of film critics are now insisting Hilary Swank deserves an Oscar nomination for her performance in "Boys Don't Cry." In
this truly marvelous film that hits you over the head with its truth and
beauty, Hilary portrays Brandon Teena, a young woman who passed as man,
and was killed for doing so. PopcornQ sat down with the lovely Miss Swank
who was now dressed in sweater, skirt and a few dashes of makeup.
Brandon Judell: Is it all right to ask you a few really probing questions?
Hilary Swank: Sure. You never know what you're going to get from me.
BJ: How come the script didn't scare you off? What made you feel
you wanted to be enveloped in the challenging character of Brandon Teena
for a year or so?
HS: Well, two things. One, when I first read the script, I actually
didn't know it was a true story. So after finding out it was a true
story, I thought this is a very important story to show to the world.
Two, it is, like you said, the most challenging role for an actor. I'm
knocking on wood, hoping that I can be challenged as much as I was with
this film in the future. Just being able to stretch my craft and to
stretch my talent was a huge, huge thing to me. You don't get that many
chances to challenge yourself as an artist so I jumped at the chance.
BJ: How would you describe Brandon? As a lesbian who can't admit
it because of society's strictures? Or as someone
in-between genders?
HS: You know what for me, it was very important not to define what
Brandon Teena was or Teena Brandon... It's
very important, I think. My feeling is and my opinion is that [Brandon] died
undefined and unformed. I mean, [Brandon] never got to say, "This is what I am!"
So it was important to me to kind of leave that for everyone else to make
up their own opinions because [Brandon] could be transgendered...could have
been a lesbian but was never able to say because [Brandon] died at 21. So
that's what I tried to play.
BJ: To prepare for this part, you actually walked around as a man.
HS: Uhhmmm.
BJ: What were some of the first experiences you had?
HS: When I was first offered the role, after auditioning, it was really
important to me to actually pass as a boy in real life because I knew I'd
be doing the film a grave injustice if I were to not pass and really be
believable. So I lived my life for four weeks as a boy. That included the
physical transformation and a mental transformation, seeing what it feels
like to be out on the street and have people either think that I'm a boy
or be confused by my gender and all the feelings that that brings to a
person. So it was quite an experience, and I can say it was life
changing. I learned a lot about humanity.
BJ: Were girls attracted to you on the street? Did gay men try to
pick you up while you were in your male drag?
HS: Yes. You know what? I think gay men liked me better than girls
because I think girls want a meatier, bigger, hunky guy. I was a gangly,
skinny boy. (Laughs) And young looking. That's another thing. These girls
like men who are a little older than them. But you know, I did okay. I
mean, I think girls mostly wanted to be my friend. But yes, I did get
picked up by gay men, which is really interesting. I was thinking, Gosh! I
can fool them.
BJ: Was there a temptation to keep the conversations going with
your admirers for research purposes?
HS: Sure. Absolutely. I mean, I'm married and I do draw a line between my
personal and my acting lives, so there was a line that I did draw. I
didn't cross some boundaries but yes, I would talk to people and take it
as far as I could until I wasn't comfortable, and then I would be like,
"Okay, bye!!!" Then I'd go away.
BJ: Was your husband nervous when you were home at night and still
a guy? Or did that make him rethink his gender role?
HS: You know, it's very interesting. My husband and I just had our 2 year
wedding anniversary yesterday and we've been together for 7 years so we
know each other really well. He was really my only anchor and my only
place where I could be myself. Be Hilary. At night I would go home and I
just talked like me. I couldn't actually live it 24 hours even though I
slept with a dildo on. I strapped and slept with it to see what it felt
like to just have something between your legs at all times. But there
were times when I was just me, and I got to be that with him. So I think
that was very important. It was something very important to me to be able
to have a place that I could go and be safe and just be me.
BJ: Is your spouse an actor too?
HS: He is.
BJ: So he's sort of crazy, too?
HS: Absolutely. Absolutely. That's a great way to put it.
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