Hilary Swank is expecting her third child at 52, and the Oscar-winning actress has something to say about the criticism women face when they become mothers later in life.
Speaking during a recording of The Drew Barrymore Show on October 15, Swank questioned why older mothers attract scrutiny while men who become fathers at a similar age rarely face the same judgement.
"There's a lot of backlash women get for having children older but not men, which is interesting," the Million Dollar Baby star said in a preview of the episode, scheduled to air on October 20.
Her comments came just one day after she announced that she and husband Philip Schneider are expecting another baby in December, three years after welcoming their twins, Aya and Ohm.
Hilary Swank questions the double standard around older parents
During their conversation, Drew Barrymore, 51, agreed that the expectations placed on mothers and fathers can be strikingly different.
Barrymore pointed out that some men continue having children well into their 80s, while women who become mothers in their 40s can face unkind reactions.
The distinction is particularly personal for Swank, who became a first-time mother at 48 when she welcomed her twins in April 2023.
Her comments raise a question that extends beyond celebrity parenting: why is the age of a mother so often treated as a public controversy, while older fatherhood is frequently discussed in different terms?
There are genuine medical considerations surrounding pregnancy later in life. Fertility generally declines with age, and pregnancies in older women carry increased risks of complications, including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
But those medical realities are separate from the social judgement Swank is describing. Her criticism concerns the different standards applied to men and women making decisions about parenthood.
How Hilary Swank announced her pregnancy at 52
Swank revealed her latest pregnancy on October 14 with a playful Instagram video featuring her family dressed as glowing stick figures.
The actress appeared alongside Schneider and their three-year-old twins before revealing a miniature glowing figure positioned over her baby bump.
She accompanied the announcement with a joke about her next professional project.
"A lot of people have been asking what project I'm doing next, this one releases in December," she wrote.
The announcement confirmed that the couple, who married in 2018, are preparing to welcome their third child around Christmas.
Speaking exclusively to People on October 15 during the EWG Verified Pop-Up in New York City, Swank shared her elation. The actress, who serves as Chief Innovation Officer for the prenatal brand HealthyBaby, connected her personal journey to her ongoing activism, noting her recent efforts lobbying alongside California Governor Gavin Newsom to pass ingredient transparency laws designed to protect maternal and fetal health.
Swank also revealed that her three-year-old twins are already enthusiastic about the upcoming winter arrival, humorously noting that Aya and Ohm have been eagerly asking everyone they meet if "it is Christmas time yet" so they can meet their new sibling.
Swank's message to a woman worried about becoming a mother
Not every response to the pregnancy announcement focused on her age as a source of criticism.
Among the comments on Instagram was a message from a 39-year-old woman who explained that she was still single and without children, but hoped to have a family someday.
The woman said Swank's pregnancy had given her hope that the future she wanted might still be possible.
Swank responded personally, sharing her belief that important milestones do not always happen according to the timetable people imagine for themselves.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, the actress wrote that "things happen in their time, not ours," while acknowledging how difficult it can be to trust that process.
The exchange offered a different perspective on the conversation surrounding her pregnancy. While some public discussion has centred on the challenges of later motherhood, this particular follower saw Swank's experience as a source of encouragement.
Her experience, however, should not be interpreted as a guarantee about fertility at any age. Individual circumstances and medical possibilities vary considerably.
Why Swank says becoming a mother later worked for her
Swank has previously explained that her journey into motherhood did not follow the timeline she originally imagined.
In an April 2026 interview with E! News, she said becoming a parent later had allowed her to give her children a level of attention she might not have been able to offer earlier in her career.
The actress, who won Academy Awards for Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby, spent decades building her career before welcoming her twins.
She made a similar point during a previous appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, explaining that she had been able to pursue her ambition of acting before concentrating on her dream of motherhood.
That distinction matters to Swank's position. She is not arguing that everyone should wait until their late 40s or 50s to have children. Rather, her public comments reflect her own experience of finding happiness in a family life that arrived later than expected.
Her latest pregnancy has brought those conversations back into focus, this time alongside a direct challenge to the different expectations society places on older mothers and fathers.
The full conversation with Barrymore is scheduled to air on October 20, offering viewers a chance to hear more about Swank's perspective as she prepares to welcome her third child.
