Hilary Swank discusses criticism of older motherhood in interview

Actress Hilary Swank said she has faced criticism for becoming a mother at an older age during a conversation with host Drew Barrymore. Swank, who announced on Instagram that she is expecting her third child with husband Philip Schneider, noted that women often receive backlash for having children later in life, a double standard she said does not apply to men. > "There’s a lot of backlash women get for having children older but not men, which is interesting," Swank said. Barrymore agreed, adding that men having children in their 80s is not treated as a joke. The Oscar winner recalled a previous encounter in which a woman told her, "How dare you? You’re too old," and related to the comment by sharing that her own father had died when she was in her 20s. Swank explained that she chose to have children despite the criticism, saying she would rather experience life with a child than not at all. The announcement was accompanied by a video showing Swank, Schneider and their 48-year-old twins dancing with glow-stick accessories, and Swank posted a caption hinting at a new project releasing in December. She was later seen arriving in New York City for Barrymore’s talk show, displaying her baby bump.