After eight years of marriage, Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank and her actor husband Chad Lowe have split. Her publicist has announced, “Hilary and Chad have decided to separate but they are hopeful they will be able to get through this tough time.” They met in 1992 at a Hollywood Athletic Club party. Hilary later said, “It was like the old cliché where you see somebody, lock eyes across the room and time stands still – love at first sight.” Hilary (31) famously forgot to thank her husband when she collected a Best Actress oscar for her role in Boys Don’t Cry in 1999, although she remembered when she won again in 2004 for oillion Dollar Baby. Chad (38) is also an award-winner – he scored an Emmy in 1989 for TV’s Life Goes on. [11 January 2006]