She went through extensive training to play an underdog boxer
In her career as an actor, Hilary Swank has been nominated for two Oscars and has undergone several character transformations. As we’ve seen, she worked hard to prepare for her role as a former boxing champion in the film Million Dollar Baby. Her role as Brandon Teena, on the other hand, had already earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
No, this isn’t the first time a straight actor has taken on a transgender character. At the time, Hilary Swank was unknown, and she tried out as a boy. As part of her preparation, she spent a month pretending to be a man.