Swain was born in Santa Monica, California, the daughter of Cindy (née Fitzgerald) and David Swain, Sr., an electrical engineer. Swain grew up in Malibu with four siblings living a modest lifestyle and was a straight-A student at Malibu High School. In 1993, Swain was a stunt double in the film The Good Son. Her sister is the actress Chelse Swain.

In 1995, Swain was chosen from 2,500 girls to star in the controversial remake of Lolita; the film was released in 1997. Shortly after, Swain starred as the rebellious daughter of John Travolta in action film Face/Off. After Face/Off, she starred in many low-budget films. In 2002, Stuff magazine named her #79 of the "102 Sexiest Women In The World." In February 2007, she was the cover girl on Stuff Read more...

Swain is a spokesperson for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). At the age of 21, she became the youngest model to pose nude for PETA. In the Lolita-esque ad, set in a classroom, she stands at a blackboard writing, "I'd rather go naked than wear fur". The caption below reads: "Kindness Is a Class Act." She has erroneously been reported to be a vegan or vegetarian in the past, Read more...