Hilary Swank Says ORDINARY ANGELS Role ‘Was Like A Gift’ From Late Father
By Movieguide® Contributor
Hilary Swank is opening up about her decision to step back from her career to take care of her father and how it influenced her role in ORDINARY ANGELS.
“My dad passed away October 1st 2021,” she said during an interview for CBS SUNDAY MORNING. “He had a lung transplant, and just shortly after he passed — I mean, I started filming five months later, and so it was almost like kismet, in a way, to be part of [ORDINARY ANGELS].”
Swank stars as “Sharon (Hilary Swank), a fierce but struggling hairdresser in small-town Kentucky who discovers a renewed sense of purpose when she meets Ed (Alan Ritchson), a widower working hard to make ends meet for his two daughters. With his youngest daughter waiting for a liver transplant, Sharon sets her mind to helping the family and will move mountains to do it. What unfolds is the inspiring tale of faith, everyday miracles, and ordinary angels,” per the movie’s website.
“For me, my dad had just passed, and he was a lung transplant recipient,” Swank told Forbes. “He’s one of my favorite people, and I felt like this was just like a gift from him. I felt like it was sent to me because it deals with organ transplants and how organ transplants save lives — but also, my dad was a Christian and he was all about serving others. He was well-liked by every single person he met. He’s just a great reminder of how to walk in the world, and Sharon reminded me of that.”
A portion of the Movieguide® review for ORDINARY ANGELS reads:
ORDINARY ANGELS is a very exciting movie. It’s also extremely heartrending because it shows many people volunteering to help this little girl. Even the television station in the small community helps and asks people for prayer. Frankly, very few movies have so well integrated Christian faith, values and entertainment together like ORDINARY ANGELS.
Swank actually stepped away from her Hollywood career for three years to care for her dad — a decision that many thought was crazy.
“I know a lot of people were like, ‘Oh, my gosh, how can you take that much time off of your career? Aren’t you worried about—?’ And I’m like, ‘Worried about what? I’m only worried about my dad’s health,’” she explained. “To think that your career could go away or something was the least of my concerns, the absolute last thing.”
Swank continued, “It was such a great time, and we became even closer, obviously, and he’s one of my favorite people in the whole world, and I just miss him every day. I would have only regretted not being there.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
