If the inventory in your home includes two Oscars, you really don’t need to prove yourself artistically in Hollywood any longer. Normally, stars make it big with mainstream blockbusters. The ensuing struggle to get cast in a couple of discerning roles begins for the newfound talent – and sometimes even continues on until they’ve reached a ripe old age. It was just the opposite for Hilary Swank. After success at modeling and television appearances, she was awarded her first Oscar for the 1999 tragedy "Boys Don’t Cry". Five years later another film with a tragic theme led her to her second Oscar trophy, this time for the drama "Million Dollar Baby". These two films alone are sufficient evidence of Swank’s acting skills. She masters the most complex roles – like the man trapped within a woman’s body, or the unrelenting boxer who chooses euthanasia to end her suffering. Swank thereby displays an amazing authenticity that is unrivaled. Currently, she is starring in the newly released "P.S. I Love You": This bittersweet piece of buttered-popcorn cinema will finally establish the now 33-year-old actress as a star in the eyes of mainstream moviegoers as well.

Laudation: Till Schweiger