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Two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank opens up to Vanity Fair about her recent divorce and some of the reasons behind it.

Swank’s 13-year romance with Chad Lowe unraveled this year, leaving the actress broken, but nonetheless forthright and optimistic.

The winner of Best Actress honors for both Million Dollar Baby and Boys Don’t Cry announced her separation from Lowe in January, but expressed hope that they could reconcile. But in late May, the couple jointly decided to divorce. They had been married since 1997.

“They continue to be friends and have the utmost respect for one another,” a source said.

Swank admits that Lowe had substance-abuse problems, but denied that it was a reason for their separation, adding that he’s been sober for three years.

“It’s an enormous obstacle to overcome, and he’s doing it. He’s living a sober life. I know how difficult it is, and I’m really proud of his sobriety,” she said.

Swank said that if she had to attribute the breakup of her marriage to one particular thing, it would simply be gradually growing apart as they grew older.

“I would say we grew apart. But there’s never one thing. It’s an accumulation of things that make it slowly start to drift apart.”

  • Why she and Chad didn’t have a family
  • Why she is happy now
  • Her pattern of taking care of everyone else
  • Marriage, divorce, and dating
  • Why she loves The Hollywood Gossip!

Just kidding about the last part. But we know she would if she checked us out.