Hilary Swank Comforted Mortified Hoffman  3/7/06

Hilary Swank felt qualified to comfort Philip Seymour Hoffman after he forgot to thank his girlfriend in his acceptance speech at Sunday's Academy Awards (05MAR06) - because she mirrored his actions in 2000.

Swank presented the Capote star with the Best Actor trophy at the glitzy Oscar ceremony and as the two were walking offstage, Hoffman realized he had forgotten to thank his girlfriend, Mimi O'Donnell.

The actress empathized with Hoffman saying, "Oh, I know. No one forgot like I forgot. But people will understand, they really will. You can't kick yourself over it."

Swank forgot to thank her husband Chad Lowe, when she won her first Oscar for Boys Don't Cry, but made a point of thanking him last year (05), when she won her second Best Actress honor for Million Dollar Baby.