Hilary Swank, 52, is expecting another child with her husband, Philip Schneider, but her happy announcement has sparked criticism over becoming a mother later in life. The two-time Oscar winner shared the news in a playful Instagram video featuring Schneider and their three-year-old twins, Aya and Ohm. The family danced together with glowing sticks before Swank revealed her baby bump, joking that her next “project” would arrive in December. The couple married in August 2018 and welcomed their twins in April 2023. While many celebrated the news, others questioned her decision, with some commenters pointing out how old she might be when her children graduate. One person even compared having a baby in her 50s with the experience of becoming a grandparent. Swank has now responded to the criticism in a preview of her October 20 interview with Drew Barrymore, highlighting what she sees as a double standard. “There’s a lot of backlash women get for having children older but not men, which is interesting,” she explained.

During the interview, Swank recalled a woman who criticized her because her own father died when she was in her early 20s. The woman feared Swank might not be around for her children as they grew older. Swank understood the heartbreak behind that concern because she had also lost her father, Stephen Michael Swank, in 2021. The actress had paused her career seven years earlier to care for him, and she remembered him as one of her favorite people on earth. Despite the pain of losing him, Swank said she would rather have experienced their loving relationship than never have known him at all. Her words offered a deeply personal response to the debate surrounding older parents. As she prepares to welcome her third child, Swank is emphasizing the value of love, family, and shared memories. Her perspective is clear: although everyone has different opinions about parenthood, women should not face unfair judgment simply because they choose to have children later in life.