Hilary Swank: I Believe In "Miracles"

Says Her Success Surely Is One; Discusses Latest Film, Thriller "The Reaping"

(CBS)  After two Oscars in six years and a rise into Hollywood's elite, Hilary Swank says she has every reason to believe in miracles.

But in her latest movie, the supernatural thriller "The Reaping," she plays a scientist and former minister who believes there's no such thing as a miracle — until she finds some she just can't explain.

Fresh off the success of her inspirational drama "Freedom Writers," the two-time Oscar-winner returns to theaters in something completely different, portraying someone who has a new life disproving religious phenomena.

Swank concurred with co-anchor Hannah Storm's assessment on The Early Show Friday that "The Reaping" is really scary.

"In every way," Storm says, "intellectually scary, and physically scary. And the reason it's so scary is because (your character goes) into these situations — something crazy is happening in this town. And you're going to prove there's nothing biblical about it. There's a scientific explanation."

"Something horrific happens to my family that makes me lose my faith," Swank says of her character. "I go the complete opposite direction and become a debunker, debunking myths and miracles.

"There's people who actually do that. They go around the world and find a scientific answer for every single miraculous occurrence.

"My character goes to a small town in Louisiana and she says, 'I'll find a scientific answer for this thing that's happening in your town.' And while she's there, things start happening that she can't quite explain."

A river turns to blood, and the 10 plagues from the Book of Exodus start happening.

Still, says Swank, "This movie was so fun to do. It was fun to film; it's scary, but it's smart. It has twists that you don't see coming. I really enjoyed it. It was a lot different than anything I'd done before."

There was lots of joking around on the set, despite or perhaps because of the tense subject matter of the movie, she added.

Asked by Storm if she believes in miracles, Swank responds with a chuckle, "Well, when I see where I've come from and where I am today, I would say that's pretty miraculous!"

Why?

"Just because, you know, humble beginnings, and now I'm here talking about a movie, which means, you know, I'm doing what I wanted to do when I was 9 years old. I got out of where I was. And, yeah, if that's what you consider a miracle, I do. I think it's amazing. I think I've been really blessed."

Swank filmed four movies in rapid succession, each different from the others, and says it's time for a break, but not for long because, "I love my job. I love it."

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Sorry, can't stand to watch Hillary in a movie. There is something about that boyish face (nope, not because of the movie she played), but because she has a boyish face! Her voice is boyish too. It's like watching a boy dress-up trying to act like they're female. I paid to see her first movie and after that, rented them and tried--I just can't. It didn't help how she began an afair with a married man before actually leaving her husband either to finish me trying to like her as an actor. I just can't stand the total package.