Hilary Swank has earned herself a successful career as an A-list actress and it's a long way from where she grew up.
The two time Oscar winner - who is expecting twins - once lived in a trailer park in Washington State and could only dream of a life in Hollywood.
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"My background is not something I forget," she said in an interview with the Mail on Sunday. "It helps me to not take what I have for granted. I really appreciate that I get to travel and see the world, and that I can pay my bills.
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"It’s an incredible feeling to know that I can actually buy that pair of shoes, and I appreciate a sale as much as the next person. I think about how I’m spending my money, and I like to spend on my family."
Hilary said she had little money and that was a real struggle. She added: "Growing up in a lower-income family, you don’t have the resources to make ends meet and you have to find creative ways to get by."
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The star's mom, Judy, was a secretary who paid to put her husband through college and always ensured there was food on the table.
© Photo: Getty ImagesHilary grew up in a trailer park with her doting mom
They divorced a year before Hilary and her mom moved to Los Angeles with no more than $75 to their name.
Hilary was determined to become an actress and her mom went to great lengths to help her fulfill her dreams.
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When she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hilary emotionally recalled her mother, standing at a pay phone, working her way through a roll of quarters calling casting agents that they should sign her daughter.
© Photo: Getty ImagesHilary is expecting twins with her husband
During her acceptance speech at the Academy Awards in 2005, Hilary made reference to her background and said: "I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream."
Hilary is forever grateful for everything her mom did for her and she wants everyone to know.
"I was blessed with a mom who believed in me and made me believe in myself," she said. "She always encouraged me to work hard and to know that nothing comes easy in life and that you have to work hard for the things you love, but you should never give up. And that you could achieve anything as long as you do work hard enough."
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