P.S. Hilary Swank has something to say.
The 52-year-old—who shares 3-year-old twins, son Ohm and daughter Aya, with husband Philip Schneider—discussed the criticism she’s received starting her family in her 40s after announcing that she’s pregnant with her third child.
In a preview for an upcoming appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Swank noted “the backlash women get for having children older, but not men,” before detailing an interaction she had with one of her naysayers.
“There’s one story that I found really interesting,” she said in a clip shared on Instagram ahead of the Oct. 20 episode, “and I think I was attracted to this particular story because this one women said, ‘How dare you? You’re too old, and you won’t be old enough when your kids are older, and my dad was my favorite person and he died when I was in my early 20s, and it’s just devastation.”
The Oscar winner shared that the woman’s comment made her think of her own father Stephen Michael Swank, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 73.
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Inside Pregnant Hilary Swank’s Private World with Husband Philip Schneider and Their Kids
“I related to it because my dad is also passed,” she said, “but he was one of my favorite people on Earth, and I was drawn to that.”
“I thought to myself, ‘I would rather be born and have that person who was my favorite person and experience that than not at all,'” Swank added. “You know what I’m saying? So, that’s how I took what she was saying.”
The Million Dollar Baby actress recently announced that she’s expecting by sharing a fun video that featured her soon-to-be family of five dancing while wearing glowing stick figure body costumes.
“A lot of people have been asking what project I’m doing next,” Swank wrote in an Oct. 14 Instagram post, “this one releases in December.”
In the clip—which was set to Bachman–Turner Overdrive’s “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”—the Ordinary Angels star, her husband and their little ones rocked out to the music in their rainbow-colored outfits, before Swank revealed a light-up stick figure drawn on her growing baby bump.
The P.S. I Love You star had also previously been open about her decision to start having children later in life.
“I would have had kids earlier,” she admitted to Women’s Health in a 2025 interview. “I’m not saying I actively waited until 47. But that was a magical time in my life, when it all culminated. It was the right time for a myriad of reasons.”
Keep reading for more about Swank and Schneider’s family…
Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for ABALove Will Keep Them WarmHilary Swank and husband Philip Schneider enjoyed time in the snow in Park City, Utah, at Sundance in 2019.Hilary Swank / InstagramSpooky SeasonThe P.S. I Love You star rang in the fall with a social media shoutout to her fur baby and her babies-to-be.
She captioned her Oct. 2022 post, “#HappyHalloween from me, Pumpkin Moon and my PumpTwins.”Hilary Swank / InstagramIt’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like ParenthoodHilary had an extra special present for Christmas in 2022—two new babies, which she dubbed “gifts of a lifetime.”Monica Schipper/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty ImagesEyes for Only Each OtherEach other and their incoming arrivals! Hilary kept a hand on her growing baby bump at the 2023 Golden Globes.Hilary Swank / InstagramTwo Buns in the OvenHilary provides an update on her pregnancy journey with fans, captioning her Feb. 2023 post, “Oven’s heatin’ up, dough’s beginning to rise!!”Hilary Swank / InstagramMillion Dollar Baby (A)The Million Dollar Baby star proved she has her own prizefighter when “Baby A” was caught flexing in an ultrasound image. Hilary Swank / InstagramThey’re HereHilary officially welcomed her twins in April 2023.
“It wasn’t easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it,” she captioned her announcement. “Happy Easter! Posting from pure Heaven.”Hilary Swank / InstagramDoggy HeavenHilary gave a peek into her and Philip’s life at home with their many fur babies.
“So I walked into my bedroom to find this display of rescue dog nap yumminess…,” she captioned the June 2023 post. “Can you even? Terrific Teddy, Super Sufi, Kinetic Kai, Dashing Dunton and Mama Moon.”John Sciulli/Variety via Getty ImagesDay Date Hilary and Philip enjoyed a rare kid-free date at the Variety Spirituality and Faith in Entertainment Breakfast in February 2024.Hilary Swank / InstagramAnd The Names Are…After revealing Aya and Ohm’s names in a February 2024 post, Hilary explained that her daughter was named for “a Syrian refugee we met in Lebanon, so she was just this courageous brave young girl full of light going through a really difficult time.”
As for son Ohm, his moniker is “considered the first universal sound and unites all people. We thought, ‘Oh, that sounds very fitting.'”Instagram/Hilary SwankOn Cloud Nine”After 24 hours of travel with 2 babies who refuse to sleep on planes, we decided to take our final flight home into our own hands,” Swank joked, sharing a glimpse at their August 2024 trip to Fiji. “Kidding!! We were in wonderful hands with the @fly_fijiairways crew.”Hilary Swank/InstagramRockin’ Around the Christmas TreeGood tidings, Swank brought in a December 2024 Instagram post. “Wishing everyone a restful and restorative time, as best as possible anyway, as we all navigate all we juggle,” the actress wrote. “Feeling so connected to all the caregivers out there who keep so many balls in the air and have little time for themselves.”Hilary Swank/InstagramTaking FlightBefore climbing into the metaphorical ring that is flying with little ones, Swank provided a look at the “reality of traveling with twin toddlers” on her Instagram Stories in August 2025. Hilary Swank/InstagramHer Greatest GiftsAll Swank ever wanted for Christmas was them. “Hope you all had the opportunity to slow down and embrace the big and little magical moments of the Holidays,” she wrote to her Instagram followers in December 2025. “Wishing you a joyful, healthy and abundant 2026 from my family to yours.”Hilary Swank/InstagramSnow Much FunHilary carved out some time to go walkin’ in a winter wonderland. “Had the best time with my loved ones in the snow this weekend,” she wrote in a February 2026 Instagram Story of hitting the slopes with son Ohm. “And was reminded HOW NICE Canadians are.”
