The poster for Academy Award winning Hilary Swank's new film Freedom Writers.
Based on Erin Gruwell's book The Freedom Writers Diary, inspired by a true story and the diaries of real Long Beach teenagers after the LA riots, during the worst outbreak of interracial gang warfare. The film follows a young teacher (played by Swank) who inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school. The movie also stars Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey.

Freedom Writers hits theaters on January 12th 2007.

Did You Know: Swank won the lead role in Boys Don't Cry after hundreds of other actresses had been considered and rejected over the course of three years. Swank  told director Kimberly Peirce that, like her character, she was also 21 and hailed from Lincoln, Nebraska. But she was fibbing, and when Peirce later confronted her with the lies, she winningly responded: "But that's what Brandon would do." The actress earned $75 a day and Best Actress Academy Award for the film.