Swank and Lowe split

Having wed more than eight years ago, Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe were practically one of Hollywood’s most successful couples. But until Swank took her Oscar-winning role in 1999’s Boys Don’t Cry, that success was limited to their romance. After Oscar came Swank’s way, however, her career skyrocketed, leaving Lowe behind in the dust. She even forgot to mention him in her acceptance speech for the award. Many wondered if he was man enough to handle his wife’s new fame. They can stop wondering.

Despite the fact that Hilary remembered Chad when accepting her Oscar last year for Million Dollar Baby, the couple announced today, through Hilary’s manager, that they were splitting. "Hilary and Chad have decided to separate but they are hopeful they'll be able to get through this tough time," their statement read. There was no elaboration as to the reason for the break up.

According to People magazine, Swank previously referred to her relationship with Lowe as "love at first sight." They met at a party in 1992. "It was like the old cliché where you see somebody, lock eyes across the room, and time stands still,� said Lowe.