HILARY SWANK IS EXACTLY WHERE SHE WANTS TO BE

At 50, the actor has two Oscars and two kidsand she's finally embracing life on her own terms, making time for what truly nurtures her (family, friends, movement, and meaningful roles).

- By Samantha Leal

Hilary Swank has a way of noticing the small things.

After greeting each other in an Arizona hotel lobby on a February afternoon, we make our way through the building to find coffee-but we have no idea where we're headed on this sprawling resort campus. Her hair is long, her face is makeup-free, and her dog Moon (a sweet little loaf that Hilary spotted on the side of the road in 28-degree weather while on a trip) is in tow.

As we ask each person we pass where to find coffee on our little excursion, Hilary thanks them effusively and warmly for the directions using the name on their name tag. Coffee finally in hand-Hilary goes for an iced triple decaf espresso with oat milk-we sit outside, the desert sun streaking our skin as mountains greet us in the distance. Soon, a hummingbird flutters by and stays awhile before moving toward the sun. "Oh, that was so cool," she says, her wide smile meeting mine as we both take a moment to enjoy this. Yes, if noticing is an art, she's seemingly mastered it; it's like she's not just seeing things but absorbing them. Instantly. No forced mindfulness, no internal reminders to be present-just an easy awareness, as if she's never been wired to rush past things in the first place.

No doubt this skill has paved the way for her successful acting career. Hilary has two Best Actress Oscars to her name: the first for Boys Don't Cry, in 2000, and the second for Million Dollar Baby, in 2005. Hilary was just 25 years old when she won that first Oscar. "It was like I was shot out of a cannon," she says. I ask her what she would tell that younger self. "I probably would say, "Take a breath for a second.'"