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Getting fired from a big Hollywood role would for many be a career low difficult to come back from.

But for Hilary Swank it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to her.

The actress, 51, played the role of Carly Reynolds on 16 episodes of the eighth season of the series - and took things hard when she was let go in 1998.

Speaking with Conan O'Brien in 2014, she said she had been 'devastated' by losing the gig on the show, which had waned in popularity after the late Luke Perry had left the series.

'I was on 90210 in the eighth season when no one watched it anymore, and Luke Perry was long gone,' Hilary explained, 'so I was fired off the show at that point.'

She added: 'I'm thinking, no one watches this show anymore, and I got fired off of a show that no one watches.'

Why getting fired from Beverly Hills 90210 was the best thing for Hollywood star Hilary Swank's career

The actress, 51, played the role of Carly Reynolds on 16 episodes of the eighth season of the series - and took things hard when she was let go in 1998

However it turns out it was meant to be as she was cast in her breakthrough Boys Don't Cry role two months later.

'I looked at it as a silver lining,' she said afterwards.

'Like, it's always such a reminder, when something bad happens, there's something else that could be looming around the corner.'

On 90210, she portrayed a Peach Pit server and single mom who was a love interest of Ian Ziering's character Steve Sanders.

While she is a two-time Oscar winner and Hollywood icon, Hilary has never forgotten her humble beginnings.

Before chasing her dreams in Hollywood, Hilary spent her childhood living in a trailer park with her family in Bellingham, Washington - a memory that has never left her.

While she didn't have any issue with her home, she learned her residence made her a social pariah.

She soon got the acting bug and eventually moved out to Los Angeles with her mother, where they endured more strife in her path to stardom.

The star's parents had split up by then, and Hilary and her mother lived out of a car before eventually moving into a room.

'In LA, my mother and I first lived in her Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme on quiet residential streets,' she previously said.

'When we weren't sleeping in the car, we stayed at the house of a new friend my age whose family had just moved out and were trying to sell their home. We slept on an air mattress.

On 90210, she portrayed a Peach Pit server and single mom who was a love interest of Ian Ziering's character Steve Sanders

However it turns out it was meant to be as she was cast in her breakthrough Boys Don't Cry (seen) role two months later

'After about a month, Mom found secretarial work and we rented a bedroom from a single mother in Burbank. Starting out, I booked just OK television parts, but I didn't care. I was excited to be living my dream,' she continued.

'Eventually, I signed with Bonnie Liedtke, who discovered and represented Leonardo DiCaprio, among other wonderful talents. I couldn't afford acting lessons, so I treated my auditions as free acting classes. Casting directors helped guide me and taught me a lot.

'My first big film break was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in 1992. My dad came down for the premiere and continued to see me in everything until he passed away in 2021. Mom still shares great excitement for all my projects.'

The sacrifice all paid off, with Hilary nabbing the lead role in 1994's The Next Karate Kid before she earned an Oscar at just age 25 for Boys Don't Cry - her big break after Boys Don't Cry.

The critical acclaim continued six years later with another Academy Award win for Million Dollar Baby.

She is also known for her roles in Ordinary Angels, P.S. I Love You, Conviction and Freedom Writers.

However Hilary has put her acting career on hold multiple times.

She took a three-year break to care for her father, Philip, following his lung transplant, and has been selective about her roles in recent years to focus on her personal life and family.

Hilary welcomed twins Aya and Ohm at the age of 48 with her husband Philip Schneider.

Earlier this year, Tori Spelling said Hilary was left 'hysterically crying' upon her firing from Beverly Hills, 90210.

Tori, 53, said on the 90210MG podcast that Hilary took things hard when she was let go.

Spelling - who played Donna Martin on the 90s Fox staple - said she and Hilary 'had become quite close,' as she often 'hung out' with her and her husband at the time, Chad Lowe.

'I was kind of her safe place on set, and she would talk to me about everything,' Spelling said of their friendship.

Earlier this year Tori Spelling (seen) said Hilary was left 'hysterically crying' upon her firing from Beverly Hills, 90210

Hilary welcomed twins Aya and Ohm at the age of 48 in 2023 with her husband Philip Schneider

She is also known for her roles in Ordinary Angels, P.S. I Love You, Conviction and Freedom Writers

Tori then described the circumstances that led to her dismissal from the cast.

'We were all in our dressing rooms,' Tori said 'And [Hilary] said, '[Late 90210 producer] Paul Waigner wants to talk to me in his office - do you know what it's about?''

Tori said she informed Hilary she was not sure what the meeting was focused on, but waited for her after it was done.

'So she goes in, and she comes back, and she's crying, and she comes into my dressing room,' Tori said.

Hilary emerged from the meeting, saying she 'got let go' and was 'being fired' from the program, Tori said.

The daughter of late Hollywood producer Aaron Spelling and wife Candy Spelling said she had been caught off-guard by the news of her friend's firing.

'I hadn't heard any of this - we didn't know,' Tori said.

Tori said Hilary was panicked that her Hollywood career was doomed after the professional setback.

'She was like, "Oh my God - if I get fired off of 90210, I'm never gonna make it,"' said Tori, adding that she wasn't clear on the exact wording.

She added: 'Everyone out there, please, this is from my perspective and my memory's sake. I'm not gonna get it verbatim what she said - but from this is how I saw it go down.'