Hilary Swank’s critically acclaimed role in Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby came with a physical price. The Oscar-winning actress revealed that lingering effects from her extensive boxing training forced her to become a permanent meat-eater.
In an interview with You Magazine, Swank explained that she put on nearly 20 pounds of muscle for the role of Maggie Fitzgerald, a former waitress who trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood) guides to a million dollar title shot.
Swank, previously an 18 year vegetarian, shocked her system by suddenly switching to meat to build a boxer’s physique. She consumed at least 210 grams of protein per day through drinking egg whites, and protein shakes in the middle of the night. To prevent fat gain, her carb diet was limited to 50 grams per day. Her calorie intake was upped to 4,000 a day.
According to W Magazine, Swank worked in the gym 4 1/2 hours daily for six days a week. She endured the training for three months.
“I put on 19 pounds of muscle,” Swank explained. “I was 29. I was a vegetarian, and suddenly I was eating so much fish that I got elevated mercury problems.”
The problems went on for several years, and her body never adjusted back to its pre-movie form. To compensate, Swank decided to incorporate meat into her diet.
“It plagued me for a couple of years after that movie,” she continued. “When I discovered that my health was suffering, I had to change my diet. So now I eat pork and beef.”
Million Dollar Baby was nominated for seven Oscars in 2004, winning four for Best Picture, Best Director (Clint Eastwood), Best Actress (Hilary Swank), and Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman).
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Boxing training is highly taxing on the body. Like Swank, most people would experience adverse repercussions for making similar extreme changes to their diet, coupled with rigors of boxing workouts.
It reminds me of what happened to Roy Jones in 2003. He burned off close to 20 pounds to return to the light-heavyweight limit of 175 to face Antonio Tarver. Just one fight before, he weighed in at 193 to beat John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title. In that first Tarver match, Jones looked drawn and weak on his way to the ring. He had no sustained energy in his legs, and spent most of the fight trying to mimic Muhammad Ali’s Rope-A-Dope anytime Tarver went on the offensive.
It appears Mark Wahlberg learned from Swank’s mishap, because he prepared for roughly five years for his role in The Fighter. Part of that was due to production issues, but he made sure his body and diet change was gradual, and from what I hear he’s had no physical ailments pop up.
Now add all the out of the ring preparation with the fact you experience flat-out violent trauma to your skull and body in the fight. It’s another reminder why boxing is one of, if not the most difficult sport to make a living in.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 
That fight after Ruiz was Jones’ first fight with Tarver, not the rematch. The first one he won by split decision but looked awful. I thought he was crazy to take another fight at 175 – that knockout broke my heart. It ain’t been much better since.
Interesting post, thanks!
Thanks for the correction Frost, I sure did mix those two fights up! I was shocked at how bad Roy looked in that first Tarver fight, and even more so that he took an immediate rematch. It’s crazy to think those fights happened seven years ago and Roy’s still fighting 😦
I remember Michael Bennett, boxing captain of the 2000 US Olympic boxing squad, was a vegetarian- vocally so. He felt meat was bad for an athlete. He was a heavyweight by the Olympic weight classes and even won the world championships in ’99, but lost to Felix Savon in the Olympics where the Cubans chose to compete.
When he went pro, he put on even more weight to be a heavyweight by prize fighting norms. I always wondered how he could put on even more weight without meat- if that was the case. But like Roy, heavyweight (200+) was not his natural weight and when he dropped down to a lower weight, I wonder if the toll it took on his body was the reason he was not able to progress as a pro.
Thats mad about Hillary Swank… I loved that movie, it was proper sad though, almost bought A tear to My eye *no homo* lol j/k
Why She choose to eat pork and not chicken though, thats strange, nothing good in pork, and chicken is full of protein… and taste good mad good…
Though for the average Joe going up and down in weight like that would Be near impossible without meat, I would of thought it would very hard for A vegetarian to keep there body muscular, toned and fighting fit in the pro game, you would Be filling your body with even more supplements then usual… But World Class Pros have the best nutritionists in the biz… Ricky Hatton always looked extra gaunt in the face though, He looked like A crack or smack head lol…
Ive never come across A vegetarian fighter (that i know of) in My gym, altho I convinced My bredren to come alone for A couple months to keep fit for abit, it dont count though lol But He was A vegetarian, He said He eats alot of Tofu to supplement meats like chicken…
‘Swank worked in the gym 4 1/2 hours daily for six days a week. She endured the training for three months.’
You gotta respect Her dedication… Wow…
Surprised only 3months of training though…