Hilary Swank is sharing how some of her early acting roles didnt necessarily align with what she was looking for in a character.

During a recent interview with Womens Health, the two-time Oscar winner explained how Hollywood was more patriarchal than ever at the beginning of her acting career, making it more challenging for her to choose her ideal roles, which featured complex and strong characters.

Thankfully, its becoming more inclusive. But when I started, it was more patriarchal than ever, she said. And so I was playing roles that were written by men from what a female point of view is, and it wasnt necessarily true. Swank added, Its not that I dont like being feminine I just dont like being toldhowto be feminine.

The Yellowjackets actress starred in several projects before landing her Oscar-winning role in 1999s Boys Dont Cry, which follows a young transgender man named Brandon navigating love, life and trying to pass as a boy in rural Nebraska. She won her second Academy Award a few years later for 2004s Million Dollar Baby, which centers on an ill-tempered old boxing coach who reluctantly agrees to train an aspiring boxer to help her achieve her dream of becoming a professional.

Swank said winning her first Oscar at just 25 years old felt like I was shot out of a cannon.

When asked what she would say to her younger self, the actress responded, I probably would say, Take a breath for a second. Id say to really ruminate on the choices that youre making every day. Make sure what is happening is what you want. Thats the only control we have the choices we make every day. My time is my life.