2004’s Million Dollar Baby, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood alongside Hilary Swank, was an endeavor that took quite a few years to be greenlit. It took Canadian screenwriter Paul Haggis four years to sell the script for the film after he was done writing it. At the outset, many studios rejected the project, refusing to back it up. Even Hollywood star Sandra Bullock, who was supposed to be a part of the film and had high hopes for it, tried to get it made by pitching it to studio executives.
Alas, her efforts were in vain. The project suffered quite a few setbacks before it could get off the ground. Bullock’s dream movie later saw Swank in the leading role as Maggie Fitzgerald, an ambitious and strong-willed aspiring boxer. Despite initial obstructions, the film went on to garner worldwide appreciation and amassed $216.8 million at the box office in an admirably all’s-well-that-ends-well fashion.
An intriguing and horrifying behind-the-scenes anecdote from the project, however, involved Hilary Swank keeping under wraps a potentially fatal incident from director and co-producer Clint Eastwood. The truth came to light only after the film’s release, in an interview featuring the lead actress.
The Reality Behind Hilary Swank’s Deadly Secret
While filming Million Dollar Baby, the actress suffered a near-fatal staphylococcus infection. The Eastwood-directed endeavor necessitated Hilary Swank to undergo intense training. New York’s Gleason’s Gym is where she trained six days a week for five hours each day. This rigorous regimen continued for three months. Under pro-trainer Grant Roberts’ guidance, the talent had to be particular about her diet too. Her calorie intake was an astounding 4,000 calories per day.
During this period, Swank’s unwavering determination and perseverance impressed professionals at the gym. However, halfway through her training, the actress developed a blister on the ball of her foot. The size of the blister was comparable to her palm. To make things worse, it was the Boys Don’t Cry alum’s front foot, which she stated was the one she needed to “pivot on.”
The actress chose to do something that ultimately pushed her into potential jeopardy. She popped the blister. “I popped it on its own. And I did it in the bathtub,” stated Hilary Swank. This decision led to the blister being infected with detrimental Staphylococcus bacteria.
Hilary Swank Hid The Incident From Clint Eastwood
The pain from the infection was unbearable and overpowering. “I couldn’t believe the pain,” recalled the Oscar-winning actress in the interview. Without wasting much time, though, Swank decided to get it checked by a medical professional. Upon evaluation, the talent remembers the doctor saying the following to her:
“And he looked at me, and he said, ‘This is really serious. And if you would have waited two more hours, you would have been in the hospital for three weeks.’ And if it gets to your heart, that’s it.”
If there were any delays in the treatment, Hilary Swank would’ve suffered a catastrophic fate. In the 2005 interview, the Freedom Writers alum revealed how she kept the whole incident a complete secret from everyone else in the film’s production, including director and co-star Clint Eastwood. The only few who were aware of the extent of the damage were the actress’ trainers. Deeming it out of character for her role in Million Dollar Baby, Swank refused to inform Eastwood about it.
Following was Hilary Swank’s concluding statement:
“I didn’t tell Clint. He still to this day doesn’t know. The producers don’t know. No one knows…except my trainers…because, in the end, that’s what happens to boxers.”
Clint Eastwood, who harbors immense appreciation for Swank’s determination and acting prowess, was unsurprised by the latter’s confession. According to the director of the project, the actress’ relentless hardworking nature is what played a huge role in the 2004 film’s success. In the same interview, Eastwood stated the following:
“This (about Hilary Swank’s secret) is just another step in her path to greatness. She’s the best there is, as good an actress as I’ve worked with.”
When such praises come from a Hollywood genius, they’re worth believing in. Swank’s brilliant, awe-inspiring performance in Million Dollar Baby landed her the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Hilary Swank’s never-ending efforts, therefore, did not go unnoticed by the rest of the world. Her performance in the 2004 endeavor remains simply unforgettable—and it’s all thanks to her perseverance and ambition.
Million Dollar Baby is available on Prime Video.
Source: CBS News
