Hilary Swank is opening up about the joys of becoming a mother later in life. The Oscar-winning actress, who turned 51, shared that she felt ready to fully devote herself to her twins, Ohm and Aya, after welcoming them at age 48.
"I personally was happy that I had them later in life," Swank exclusively told E! News at the Environmental Working Group's annual Earth Day dinner on April 22. "Because now I can give them my full attention in a way that I wouldn't have been able to earlier in life."
Dismissing the "geriatric" label some have used, she added, "It all depends on what you think about yourself."
Swank credits the Environmental Working Group (EWG) for helping her make informed choices for her family. "I don't make a move without them," she said. "In a world where it's really profit over people, we have to have someone that we believe to show us the way and be a guiding light, and that's the EWG for me."
She emphasized the importance of being mindful of toxins, especially with young children. "I've always been really diligent about what I put in my body or on my body, but having babies makes you think. They're just so vulnerable and more susceptible to toxins, and it's my responsibility as a parent to ensure that I'm doing the best that I can for them."
One nonnegotiable in her household is avoiding plastic as much as possible. "We don't drink out of plastic, we don't use plastic. You can't avoid plastic, but wherever possible," Swank said.
Despite her best efforts, she admits parenting comes with messy moments. On Instagram, she shared a throwback from a beach vacation, joking, "Who else has babies that think sand is edible?"