Learning to fly is like reading a book: Hilary Swank

The actress took piloting lessons to prepare for her role as famous aviator Amelia Earhart in upcoming movie Amelia, and says the experience of trying a new skill transported her back to childhood.

The actress took piloting lessons to prepare for her role as famous aviator Amelia Earhart in upcoming movie Amelia, and says the experience of trying a new skill transported her back to childhood.

Hilary said: "Putting my hands on the wheel for the first time was a rush. After a certain age, there's not many firsts you experience in your life, so learning to fly reminded me of the childlike feeling of exhilaration when you first ride a bike or read a book."

Hilary, 35, was disappointed to be banned by film bosses from completing her full pilot training and plans to continue working towards her license in future – even though she struggled to get to grips with some elements of the course. She explained to The Scotsman newspaper: "I'd like to get my licence and continue to go up on my own.

"I flew for 19 hours, but they couldn't let me go up when they were shooting. I taxi the plane – but that's on the ground, and I would like to see this through. What I didn't know when I started was the calculations that go into flying. It was like I was back in school doing calculus. I don't sweat much – but I'd do a two-hour flight and I'd be drenched from the concentration.

"I do want to go back. I don't want to just say, 'Yeah, I flew.' " The ‘Boys Don’t Cry star also had different experiences of flying - jetting across the world so frequently to promote her projects that flight attendants started to mock her. She explained: "The air staff actually laugh at me because they know me so well and they tell me it's illegal for them to fly as much as I do. I'm constantly in the air."