Hilary Swank finds love at last

The actress' searing dramas have earned her a pair of Oscars, but she was ready for some romance and comedy in her career, and she scored both in a new film.

WHILE Hilary Swank was making the inspirational drama "Freedom Writers" with writer-director Richard LaGravenese, he told her that for her next film, "I want you to do something lighter and funny and girlie. You are such a girl, and you are so funny." ¶ Despite having won best actress Oscars for 1999's "Boys Don't Cry" and 2004's "Million Dollar Baby" -- or maybe because of it -- the whippet-slender 33-year-old Swank knows she isn't the first person who comes to mind for a romantic comedy. ¶ "I'm known for my dramatic work, and there aren't a lot of great comedies out there. So actually finding a good comedy is challenging in itself. When you do find one, there are obviously a niche of girls for those roles." ¶ But then LaGravenese presented her with his adaptation of "P.S., I Love You," based on Cecelia Ahern's first novel. It's a story that gives Swank a chance to elicit tears, but she also cracks jokes, sings karaoke, takes a few pratfalls and is romanced by a trio of guys. ¶ Over brunch on a cloudy day at the Casa Del Mar Hotel in Santa Monica, the actress is a chatterbox with high cheekbones and a warm, open smile. Her long hair cascades down her back -- in just two days, Oprah Winfrey would be cutting Swank's locks on TV for a wig program for chemotherapy cancer patients. The actress orders scrambled egg whites with tomato, onion and feta cheese, even though she just ate a fruit plate and other goodies less than an hour before while sitting for hair and makeup. An athlete in school, she's never struggled with her weight.