Hilary Swank Speaks

By: Shannon Gossage

Swank has remained quiet on the subject since the two announced their separation in January and since they officially filed for divorce in May. Swank did an interview with Vanity Fair magazine and finally spilled the beans about her marriage and subsequent break-up. Swank said in the August issue, "I knew something was happening, but I didn’t know what, When I found out, it was such a shock because I never thought he’d keep something from me. And yet, on another level, it was a confirmation of something I was feeling that was keeping us from being completely solid." She does say that his substance abuse was not the only reason the marriage failed.

Swank never reveals what substance Lowe was allegedly abusing, but did say that he is now sober and has been for three-years. Said Swank, "It’s an enormous obstacle to overcome, and he’s doing it. He’s living a sober life. I know how difficult it is and I’m really proud of his sobriety." Swank reportedly said that she chose to stay with Lowe because "it was the most important time of his life." She said, "That’s when he needed me most."

Swank, 31, and Lowe, 38, met at a party in 1992. She has said it was "love at first sight." They were married for 9 years before separating. Reports of marital strife began dogging the couple after she famously failed to mention him in her acceptance speech when she received her first Oscar for Boys Don’t Cry. There were reports that Lowe, who has enjoyed very modest success on the small screen, was jealous of his wife’s career (she has brought home two Oscars – the second for Million Dollar Baby). Swank slammed the rumors in the interview and said, "Chad is very supportive of my career. He is, I think, genuinely happy for my success." Swank also said she is to blame as well for the end of the marriage, but said, "In the end, it just didn’t work, but I would never look back on this relationship as failed. I look at it as 13 ½ years of success." Lowe has reportedly not yet commented on the article.