5 Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry

As the lead in The Next Karate Kid, Hilary Swank, a child star, was an already iconic figure in Hollywood history. In 1999, however, she took on one of the most difficult roles in the independent film: Brandon Teena, a transgender man who was murdered in a hate crime. The movie version of Teena’s story was called Boy Don’t Cry.

Swank was only paid $3,000 to star in the tiny independent film. It was made with a very tight budget. Legend has it that this was not enough to cover her medical insurance. It was a risky decision considering Swank had to undergo severe body transformations in order to play the trans man role and also take part in fight scenes. Swank was nominated for her first Oscar and became one of Hollywood’s most prominent leading ladies.

Role: Brandon Teena

Salary: $3,000