Hilary Swank has spoken out about the criticism often directed at women who become mothers later in life, following her announcement that she is expecting a baby at 52.
The Yellowjackets actress surprised fans this week by revealing her pregnancy in a family Instagram video. Swank, who shares three-year-old twins with her husband, Philip Schneider, 53, displayed her growing bump as the couple celebrated their expanding family.
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Swank questioned why older mothers are subjected to harsher judgment than men who have children later in life.
“There’s a lot of backlash women get for having children older but not men, which is interesting,” Hilary told host Drew Barrymore.
Barrymore, who has two children, agreed that the disparity was “weird.” She pointed out that men sometimes become fathers well into their 80s, saying that was “not a euphemism or a joke.”
The Million Dollar Baby star then noted that Barrymore had also faced criticism after having children in her 40s, saying people had not always responded graciously.
Hilary Swank has discussed the criticism aimed at women who have children later in life after announcing her pregnancy at 52
The Yellowjackets actress surprised fans by confirming she is expecting another child, three years after welcoming twins with Philip Schneider, 53
Swank became a mother for the first time in 2023 at the age of 48, when she and Schneider welcomed twins. She has since revealed that another woman once reprimanded her for starting a family later than usual.
According to Swank, the woman told her, “How dare you? You’re too old.” The actress later learned that the criticism was tied to the woman’s grief after losing her beloved father when she was in her 20s.
The Oscar-winning actress said she understood the emotion because her own father had also died and had been “one of my favorite people on earth.”
“I thought to myself: ‘Well, I would rather be born and have that person that was my favorite person and experience that than not at all,’” she explained.
The full conversation with Swank on The Drew Barrymore Show is scheduled to air on October 20.
Swank announced the pregnancy in a playful video featuring Schneider and their three-year-old twins. The family danced with glowsticks painted on their bodies, while a tiny glowstick-adorned baby highlighted her growing bump.
She also responded to a fan who said the announcement had renewed her hope of becoming a mother in the future.
The follower wrote: “At 39 I’m still single and childless. You are literally giving me hope that the life I want could still happen for me. Congratulations to you and your beautiful family.”
Swank replied: “Thank you! It can! I always go by the adage, things happen in their time, not ours, and that has always been the case for me.”
Swank discussed her pregnancy during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, questioning why older fathers receive less criticism than women
Drew Barrymore, a mother of two, called the double standard “weird” and noted that men sometimes have children in their 80s
Hilary Swank became a first-time mother in 2023 at 48, when she welcomed twins with her husband, Philip Schneider
The actress took to Instagram Wednesday to post a cute video with the caption: ‘A lot of people have been asking what project I’m doing next, this one releases in December’
‘But of course trusting that, for me, has always been the hardest part. Wishing you unwavering trust and abundant beauty on your journey!’
Hilary previously revealed the benefit to having her twins later in life is that she gets to be more ‘present’ in their lives.
She told People magazine: ‘It just worked out that I had babies this much later in life.
‘It wasn’t that I didn’t want them earlier. There were a lot of things that kept that from happening, and so I can really take time to be with them.
‘I feel like I get a lot of Mother’s Days other than actual Mother’s Day because of being able to be so present with them.’
Hilary spoke out on her fertility journey last year in an interview with Women’s Health, explaining that she froze her eggs at the age of 37, before becoming pregnant with twins aged 47.
‘I would have had kids earlier. I’m not saying I actively waited until 47,’ she said at the time. ‘But that was a magical time in my life, when it all culminated. It was the right time for myriad reasons.’
She said that having ‘the ability to freeze my eggs for later’ was one of the most important things she has ever done to prepare for the possibility of being a mum, pointing out ‘it takes some of the pressure off’.
She also explained how she was thankful to be an older mum, and doesn’t think she would have been the same parent as a younger woman.
‘I’m a very different parent than I would’ve been, even in my early 40s,’ she told the magazine.
‘I’m much more patient. I’m much more understanding. I am much more, I think, interested in a different way than I would’ve been.’
‘I’m really interested in their brains. I’m fascinated about what makes them tick. And I have my career that’s already established, so I’m not divided.
‘I’m able to really sink in and be present with them and be a hands-on parent.’