Actress Hilary Swank says she would love to travel into space someday

Hilary Swank (centre) leads the cast in the new series 'Away', premiering on Sept 4. Photos: Netflix

In the 10-episode Netflix series Away, Hilary Swank plays American astronaut Emma Green who is about to embark on man’s first mission to Mars.

Besides being one of the five pioneers travelling into this uncharted territory, Emma is also in charge of the operation comprising an international crew (played by Mark Ivanir, Ato Essandoh, Ray Panthaki and Vivian Wu).

While it’s a dream come true for Emma, it also means leaving behind her husband (Josh Charles) and teenage daughter (Talitha Bateman) for at least three years, and at a time when they both need her the most.

The 46-year-old Swank is only too familiar of the sacrifices one has to make in order to realise a dream, and then sacrificing more in order to keep that dream alive.

During a video interview to promote Away, Swank shared with StarLifestyle: “As an actor since I was 16 years old, I’ve been travelling the entire world. And so it’s something I know well – the kind of sacrifices, of leaving home and loved ones.

“I mean, obviously, it’s on a very different level than going into space, but it’s still kind of a similar feeling.

“Having that longing, for those kind of creature comforts, when you’re really tired, or you’re going through a very emotionally gruelling filming schedule, that’s a challenge, you know. So, I could definitely really relate to all of that.”

Swank added: “If I were to go into space, which I would love to do someday – but I don’t think I want to go as far as Mars, I think the moon would just do it perfectly for me – and if I could take anything with me, I would definitely take my dogs.

“They are like my greatest joy. I love them and being around them, is one of the greatest comforts.”

According to Hilary Swank, her role in 'Away' is physically challenging as the spacesuit is heavy.

Swank decided to pursue the dream of becoming an actress at a young age. Those early years – as she said during her acceptance speech after winning her second Oscar for Million Dollar Baby (2004) – she was just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream.

For a good eight years, she struggled to make a name for herself – from making her big-screen debut on Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992), landing her first leading role in the 1994 movie The Next Karate Kid, to getting fired from the 1990s popular TV series Beverly Hills, 90210 after 16 episodes.

Then in 1999, she landed the role of Brandon Teena in Boys Don’t Cry which brought Swank her first Best Actress Oscar, and with it prestige.

Hilary Swank holds her Oscar for Best Actress for her role in 'Boys Don't Cry' at the 72nd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles 26 March 2000. Photo: AFP

But like most people in the film industry, she’s had her share of hits (Insomnia, Freedom Writers) and misses (The Reaping, P.S. I Love You) in the 29 years she’s been acting.

Of late though, Swank has started venturing into television.

In 2018, she starred in the 10-episode anthology drama Trust, of which the first episode was directed by Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire).

When asked what she finds attractive about television now, Swank replied: “You know, television never really used to be my medium. I prefer films because I like the idea of exploring another person, and then another person, and another person.

“If you were on a television show for an extended period of time, you were only really diving into that person.

“And what I love about being an actor is walking in so many different people’s shoes and seeing through their eyes.

“But I have to say that after working with Danny Boyle on Trust and now working on Away with Ed Zwick (The Last Samurai), I absolutely loved it.

Director Edward Zwick (left) with actors Josh Charles and Hilary Swank, during the filming of 'Away'.

“I think what we’re seeing in television is what we used to see in the independent film. But then, independent film really quickly became bought by big studios, so they weren’t taking the same risks as they used to.

“Television is now taking those risks and they’re telling stories that I think people really want to see. And there’s so much content now on television that you can really see anything, and they represent the world.

Television now showcases a more true representation of the world, says the actress.

“Away is a good example; it’s so colourful in that it shows so many different walks of life, and that’s what the world looks like, you know.

“We used to only see movies and television through the lens of a white male. And it was so myopic, it was so like one way.

“And I think we oftentimes were like, ‘What? That’s not the way it is.’ And a lot of times I was offered roles where I was just like the support of the anchor, a man. And it was disparaging.

“But now we have television. Now we get to see the whole world. So, I’m so grateful for that.”