Pregnant Hilary Swank Fires Back at Critics Who Say Women Shouldn't Have Babies Later in Life
Hilary Swank has challenged the double standards facing women who become mothers later in life after recalling how a stranger questioned whether she was too old to raise children.
The 52-year-old actress, who is expecting her third child with husband Philip Schneider, said women often face criticism for having children at an older age, while men are treated differently.
'There's a lot of backlash women get for having children older but not men, which is interesting,' Swank told Drew Barrymore in a preview of an interview scheduled to air on 20 October.
Barrymore agreed, pointing out that men can become fathers well into their 80s, while women who have children in their 40s are not always met with the same acceptance.
Swank, who welcomed twins Aya and Ohm in 2023 at the age of 48, also described an encounter with a woman who told her, 'How dare you. You're too old.'
The woman explained that her father had been her favourite person but died when she was in her early 20s, leaving her devastated by the loss.
Rather than dismissing the criticism, Swank said she understood the woman's feelings because she had also lost her father.
'I related to it because my dad [has] also passed but he was one of my favourite people on earth,' she said.
Reflecting on the woman's concern that older parents might not live long enough to see their children grow up, Swank explained her perspective: 'I would rather be born and have that person that was my favourite person and experience that than not at all.'
Why Hilary Swank Believes the Timing Was Right
Swank has previously spoken about how becoming a mother later in life suited her circumstances and outlook.
'I would have had kids earlier. I'm not saying I actively waited until 47, but that was a magical time in my life when it all culminated,' she told Women's Health in April 2025. 'It was the right time for a myriad of reasons.'
The actress also said motherhood had changed how she approached parenting.
'I'm a very different parent than I would've been, even in my early 40s. I'm much more patient. I'm much more understanding,' she said.
Swank added that she was particularly interested in understanding her children's personalities and how their minds worked.
Swank previously revealed that she froze her eggs at 37, years before becoming a mother. She has not disclosed whether frozen eggs or fertility treatment were involved in her current pregnancy.
She has not disclosed the medical circumstances of her current pregnancy, which she announced on Instagram on 14 October. The baby is expected in December.
What Does Pregnancy Later in Life Mean for Health?
Although Swank's experience highlights the personal side of later motherhood, pregnancy at an older age can carry medical considerations that prospective parents should understand.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), nearly 19% of pregnancies in the United States in 2020 involved women aged 35 or older. The average age of first-time mothers has also risen over the decades.
Fertility generally declines with age as the number and quality of eggs decrease. ACOG estimates that around one in 10 women aged 40 will become pregnant in a given menstrual cycle, compared with approximately one in four among women in their 20s and early 30s.
Pregnancy risks also increase with age, particularly after 40. These can include gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, pregnancy loss and chromosomal abnormalities. The likelihood of complications varies, however, and age alone does not determine an individual's pregnancy outcome.
Medical guidance therefore emphasises personalised care, including discussions about fertility, existing health conditions and appropriate prenatal monitoring.
Swank has not publicly detailed the medical circumstances of her current pregnancy, and her experience should not be taken as evidence that pregnancy at 52 carries no additional risks.