Hilary Swank: Clint Eastwood made me blush

Hilary Swank says Clint Eastwood was the first person to “make her blush”. The actress admits she was shocked that Clint actively sought her out for her Oscar-winning role in the 2004 movie Million Dollar Baby, in which she played waitress-turned-boxer Maggie Fitzgerald.

“When I heard that, I about fell off my chair because Clint has been making movies longer than I’ve been alive and I’ve grown up watching his movies and I’ve been inspired by this man and moved by him,” Hilary said.

“He’s the first person who ever made me blush.

“I turned red as an apple when I first met him and then instantly felt at ease — we started talking like we’d known each other forever. He believes in people — he hires you and says you’re the right person for the job, he gives you an environment in which to be creative and to play and tells you not to think too much, just do it.

“I would do anything for him — after Million Dollar Baby he was going to make Flags of Our Fathers and I said, ‘I’ve played a boy before, I’ll do it again.’ He didn’t go for it.”

Swank recently revealed she’s developed a taste for tea following a trip to England.

“I have got a real taste for tea now,” she said. “Obviously you can’t go to England and not have tea but I got really hooked. I’m spending a lot of time drinking and looking for a good cup of tea now.”