Hilary Swank broke out with her Oscar-winning role in 1999’s “Boys Don’t Cry,” but that doesn’t mean she was covered for prescription medicines to treat breakouts.
Swank revealed on Netflix series “Chelsea” that at 24-years-old she was paid just $3,000 for the independent film. That low sum meant the actresss didn’t even qualify for health insurance, which required a threshold of $5,000 at the time.
“I had an Academy Award, no health insurance,” Swank said.
Swank then shared another story with dinner party host Chelsea Handler and fellow guests Ava DuVernay, Connie Britton and Miss USA Deshauna Barber — this one was about income inequality.
The “Million Dollar Baby” star recalled a time when an unnamed movie’s male lead was offered $10 million to her $500,000 offer. Swank had two Oscars at the time.
“The male hadn’t had any kind of critical success but he had been in a movie where he was ‘hot,’” Swank said, sharing no other details about the film or actor. “So, I said ‘no,’ and then they went and found a newcomer who did it for $50,000. So they made a savings of 450 to probably give the guy his bonuses.”
Watch the video above.