When you think of Hilary Swank words like ”grit,” ”talent,” and ”unstoppable” probably come to mind.

But before she graced red carpets and delivered jaw-dropping performances in award-winning films, her story was anything but glamorous.

Hilary Swank was raised in a trailer park
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in a trailer park in Bellingham, Washington, Hilary Swank stepping into Hollywood as a young teenager armed with sheer determination and a dream.

As a young girl with a passion for acting, she was encouraged to perform in school plays and local theater productions.

“I had some teachers that I still think of fondly and were amazing to me. But I had other teachers who said, ‘You know what? This dream of yours is a hobby,’” Swank told CBS, adding that that her mom’s unwavering support is all that matters.

“My mom said to me that I could do anything I wanted in life. As long as I worked hard enough,” Swank told the outlet in 2005 after picking up her second Oscar. “And to this day, it still makes me really emotional, because I just never questioned it, you know? She just always believed in me.”

When she was 15, her parents – Judy and Stephen – split.

Using the separation as an opportunity to support her daughter, Judy made a bold decision: they would move to Los Angeles so Hilary could pursue her dream.

The pair packed up their belongings and drove to Hollywood with hope as their compass – and little else.