While it certainly stung being unceremoniously fired from a hit show like “Beverly Hills 90210” (Fox, 1990-2000), relatively unknown actress Hilary Swank rebounded nicely by earning both Academy and Golden Globe awards for her gripping performance in “Boys Don’t Cry” (1999). One of those magical success stories that Hollywood loves to sire, Swank would quickly prove she was no one-trick-pony by ably starring in thrillers, period dramas and romantic comedies. She found her star-making niche, however, playing heroic, steely real-life women who succeeded against the odds. Her starring role as an aspiring boxer in Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby” (2004) brought another round of Golden Globes and Oscars, and her reputation held strong with empowered performances as an inspirational inner-city teacher in “The Freedom Writers” (2007) and as groundbreaking aviatrix Amelia Earhart in “Amelia” (2009) – all roles informed in some way by Swank’s own rise from her humble, working class roots.