Hilary Swank is speaking out about the criticism women face for becoming mothers later in life, and the 52-year-old actress has a personal response for those questioning her decision to expand her family.
The two-time Oscar winner, who recently announced she is pregnant with her third child, addressed the backlash during a taping of The Drew Barrymore Show on Thursday, October 15. Swank, who welcomed twins Aya and Ohm with her husband, Philip Schneider, in April 2023 at age 48, believes there is an unfair double standard when it comes to older parents.
© Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images“There’s a lot of backlash women get for having children older but not men, which is interesting,” Swank said in a preview of the episode scheduled to air Tuesday, October 20.
Her comments come just days after she surprised fans with the announcement that she is expecting another baby at 52.
Hilary Swank Responds to Criticism About Being an Older Mom
During her conversation with Drew Barrymore, Swank opened up about the negative reactions she has received since becoming a mother in her late 40s.
© GC ImagesBarrymore, 51, agreed that women are often judged differently from men when it comes to having children later in life. “Oh my God, I mean it is weird, men have babies in their like 80s, and that’s not a euphemism or a joke,” Barrymore said.
The talk show host also acknowledged that not everyone had been supportive when Swank welcomed her twins. “You had kids in your 40s and people weren’t always gracious about it,” Barrymore added.
Swank then recalled a particularly emotional criticism from a woman who questioned whether the actress would live long enough to see her children grow up.
© GC ImagesAccording to Swank, the woman told her, “How dare you. You’re too old,” before explaining that losing her own father in her early 20s had been devastating.
Rather than dismissing the criticism, Swank said she understood the woman's grief because she had also experienced the loss of her father.
Her father, Stephen Swank, died in 2021.
The actress explained that she would still choose to experience the love of a parent, even knowing that losing them would eventually bring heartbreak. “I would rather be born and have that person that was my favorite person and experience that than not at all,” she said.
Hilary Swank Announces Third Pregnancy at 52
Swank's comments follow her October 14 pregnancy announcement, which revealed that she and Schneider are expecting their third child. The actress shared the news through a playful Instagram video featuring her family dancing with colorful glowsticks attached to their bodies.
The video eventually revealed her growing baby bump. Swank accompanied the announcement with a clever reference to her acting career. “A lot of people have been asking what project I'm doing next, this one releases in December,” she wrote.
© GC ImagesThe announcement confirmed that the couple's family is growing just three years after the birth of their twins.
The baby is expected in December 2026, although Swank has not publicly revealed the baby's sex.
The actress and Schneider married in 2018 and welcomed their first children together in 2023.
