‘Conviction’ premiere: Hilary Swank, Minnie Driver and the real women who inspired their characters

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Hollywood’s spotlight hit the real-life tale of ‘Conviction’ on Monday as the film premiered at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

On hand from the cast were Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Juliette Lewis, Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo and Bailee Madison, along with director Tony Goldwyn.

Swank portrays real-life Massachusetts wife and mom Betty Anne Waters, who hit the red carpet Monday with friend Abra Rice, played in the film by Driver.

Betty Anne Waters, the sister of Rockwell’s character Kenny Waters, got a GED, a bachelor of arts degree and then a law degree in her efforts to free her brother from a 1983 sentence of life in prison without parole for murder. (Click the picture of Waters and Rice at right to launch a gallery of red carpet arrivals.)

Also spotted: Justin Long, Zach Braff and Dania Ramirez.

The film, which had its world premier in September at the Toronto International Film Festival and screened at the San Diego Film Festival on Friday, opens in limited release on Oct. 15.

-- Christie D’Zurilla

Photos, from top: Hilary Swank, right, greets costars Juliette Lewis, left, and Minnie Driver as ‘Conviction’ director Tony Goldwyn looks on at the film’s premiere in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. (Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters); Betty Anne Waters, left, and Abra Rice in Beverly Hills (Credit: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

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