Oscar winner Hilary Swank and her husband Chad Lowe have just announced their separation after eight years of marriage.

Trying to offer hope to the actress's fans, Swank's manager, Troy Nankin, has suggested that although the couple is now separated, this might not lead to divorce, as neither part plans to file the official papers.
Informing the media about this situation, he concludes with the statement that "Hilary and Chad have decided to separate, but they are hopeful they'll be able to get through this tough time."

It's a known fact that the couple split last year, but they've now made a permanent agreement to separate.

Swank and Lowe wed in 1997 after a whirlwind romance. They met and fell in love on the set of movie Quiet Days in Hollywood, a well-rated comedy back then, where Hilary played the role of Lolita, a streetwalker on Hollywood Boulevard.

Till now, it seems she became a bit more intense, as she picked up her second Best Actress Oscar last spring for her portrayal of a boxer in Million Dollar Baby.