It’s been a minute since an It Girl like Sydney Sweeney hit the scene. By that I mean, she’s not a nepotism baby and she genuinely worked hard and was on the grind to make it happen, and it did and now she’s right on the edge of becoming very A-list. Sydney is in Euphoria, she was Emmy-nominated for The White Lotus and she’s now part of the MCU with a role in Madame Web. I’m rooting for Sydney because I admire her for being honest about how much she grinds, how much it costs to be where she is now and how it’s not all fashion shows, big paychecks and free clothes. She’s 25, she just bought her first house (she put up the wallpaper herself) and she’s one of this year’s Elle Magazine Women of the Year honorees. Some highlights from her Elle cover story:
Her first big break in ‘Sharp Objects’: “I learned that I thrived on hectic craziness. I knew that this was my dream, that my dream was coming true—and I was going to work even harder to make sure that I kept building the career that I wanted.”
Working on Marvel’s Madame Web. “I fought for the character. It’s been a really incredible journey that I’m very, very excited to be a part of.”
On her Emmy nominations: “I wasn’t expecting it. I was in a fitting for Madame Web, and when I came out of it, my phone was blowing up. After, I posted the video of my mom and me crying on the phone. It’s been more than 10 years of work and a lot of sacrifices and people telling me no. The nominations were really meaningful because I hope that my parents are proud, because they gave up a lot of their lives and themselves to be able to help me pursue my dreams. It also means a lot that I’m playing characters that resonate with viewers, and characters that challenge me as an artist. It’s an amazing moment.”
On her biggest goal: “I’m in a really, really fortunate position to be able to love the job that I have, but I also know that I can fall out of love with it. And I want to continue finding my love through the people I work with, the characters that I get to play, the people I get to meet through the projects that I’m fortunate to be able to be a part of. So I think it’s mainly being able to stay in love with what I do.”
On the sexualization of Cassie (on Euphoria): “I was highly sexualized in high school because I had boobs. It’s kind of funny: What was being said about Cassie in Euphoria, the public then decided to do to me in real life. Which I thought was so crazy, because we were trying to show a character who was so hypersexualized, and what could have been the cause and effects for her. And they just continue to do it.”
On intimacy coordinators: “We are in such a great time right now in the industry where we have intimacy coordinators, and I’ve always felt comfortable with mine. They’re very collaborative and very supportive. I think it’s important for every set to have one.”
On having a family: “Ever since I was little, I’ve always wanted to be a mom, and I love kids. I love their imaginations and think they’re a beautiful source of light. And I think that it’s the most normalcy that I’ll be able to achieve in my lifetime… I was asked if I wanted to have a family and I said yes. And then I was asked why I didn’t have one yet, and I was like, I don’t have time to take even, like, a six-month break. Like, I don’t have time to be able to start this family. I’m working so much and I’m focusing on that right now. And so it was kind of skewed with the public and taken out of context, which was insane to watch and kind of disappointing, too, because I think that being a mother, and a working mother, is really important. I really want to achieve that one day.”
On her family’s support: “People like to say they support you and they want to see you succeed. But I find that a lot of them are actually just waiting for your downfall. My family is who was there for me before I was anybody. And when I see them, I’m still Syd, and that is what’s important to me. They’ll always be there for me, no matter if I want to act tomorrow or quit.”
I think the comments about her family are somewhat pointed, especially given the “backlash” on social media over her mom’s hoedown birthday party. The photos Sydney and her brother posted from the party definitely had some MAGA-adjacent imagery, although (again) who knows what Sydney’s politics are. I think her comments about wanting to have a baby but not really having the time or money to do so are quite honest too – people assume that HBO actors are rolling in money, but she’s made it clear that she truly doesn’t have the kind of money to take any extended time off.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Avalon Red, cover courtesy of Elle.
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- Sydney Sweeney arrives the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards at Barker Hangar on June 05, 2022 in Santa Monica, California,Image: 697305646, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Sydney Sweeney, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon
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- SANTA MONICA, CA – JUNE 05: Sydney Sweeney attends the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards at Barker Hangar on June 05, 2022 in Santa Monica, California.,Image: 697321973, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Sydney Sweeney, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer / Avalon
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- SANTA MONICA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – JUNE 05: American actress Sydney Sweeney wearing Miu Miu arrives at the 2022 MTV Movie And TV Awards held at The Barker Hangar on June 5, 2022 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 697342360, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Sydney Sweeney, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 02:Sydney Sweeney attend the “Bones And All” red carpet at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 02, 2022 in Venice, Italy. Where: Venezia, Italien When: 02 Sep 2022 Credit: Rocco Spaziani/DPA/Cover Images **ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE UK AND USA**
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- 79th Venice Film Festival: ‘Bones And All’ – Premiere Featuring: Sydney Sweeney Where: Venice, Italy When: 02 Sep 2022 Credit: KIKA Press/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN ITALY**
She’s very young and seemingly has a bright future ahead of her. That theme for her mother’s bday party was quite something. Those hats were so off putting and then seeing her brother who seemed to be steeped in MAGA was gross. But she shouldn’t be punished for the racist ideology of other family members if that’s not what she holds. Lots of young women work hard to achieve their dreams and know right from wrong. Hope she does too.
“ But she shouldn’t be punished for the racist ideology of other family members if that’s not what she holds.”
Do we know that she’s not a MAGA supporter? I don’t follow her so I’m not sure if she’s ever clarified what her views are?
It just seems like certain people are automatically granted the benefit of the doubt because they are popular for other reasons, even when they are very obviously signaling that they are not good people. (Like Kim K. who still pals around with Ivanka.)
I don’t hold those views and so I would never make a series of sponsored posts featuring my family doing that, or allow my brother to publicize it.
Remember, she said to “stop making assumptions”, not that our assumptions were wrong.
She can do what she wants but I no longer have time for her, lol.
“But she shouldn’t be punished for the racist ideology of other family members if that’s not what she holds.”
I would agree with this, if she shunned those family members who hold those odious views. but she’s close with them. MAGA-adjacent, when you don’t denounce the views of those adjacent, is still MAGA.
sure, she “worked hard”. but she’s a pretty white girl with big boobs. I’m betting she didn’t have to work as hard as a LOT of people who also didn’t have connections.
You are a bundle of joy.
I agree with whatWHAT?
I’m with whatWHAT? too.
Me too! And this post going way too easy on her considering previous takes which we’re much harsher on her and her obtuse, vague apologies for publicly and shamelessly displaying her MAGA family.
She’s the new Taylor Kitsch IMO. I don’t think she will become a huge star like people are predicting.
I kind of agree. I find her somehow forgettable, I don’t know why. I see her in things, and maybe notice her character. But then I’ll see a picture or and another article about her and wonder “who is she? What’s she been in?” Not because I’m interested but because I literally have no idea who she is. And then the same thing will happen a month or two later.
At this point in my brain she occupies a slot labeled “person who tried to hide MAGA stuff from her SM, who keeps being popping up in press, and who I have no interest in or memory of” But I don’t know that a post is about the bland person that goes in that slot until I read the whole thing. The exact same thing happened for me with Taylor Kitsch
(and, tbh, I just Googled his name to double check that I was thinking of the correct forgettable actor, because that’s how bad his ability to stick in my brain is)
And why are tptb pushing her so much?
Yes. Her White Lotus role only required her to look sullen and glare at people. I don’t think she’s that talented or compelling at all.
She’ll become a huge star if the industry wants her to.
To think we have any say in that big machinery is naive.
Creating hype about someone that people really don’t care about to make them next big thing, is easy. Influencing young people to care about someone they never thought of before, is easy.
So, if the industry wants her to be big star (because they see money) she will be.
“They’ll always be there for me, no matter if I want to act tomorrow or quit.”
I never begrudge people for the families they have. Sydney has all the right to have her own opinions and to want to keep peace by not bringing politics into her family life and professional life.
All that being said, accoridng to wikipedia, her family can be described as a stage family, with her regularly contributing to their upkeep since she was a child. She does not say, but is heavily implied she is their breadwinner, and this porbably is partially the reason why she is only now being able to afford certain things…
So, yeah, I applaud her for thinking the best about her family and I hope she is right, but I have a feeling she is not?
PS: Aaron carter died this weekend. Life as a child actor is very, very hard and REALLY supporting families are not the norm in that environment.
Sometimes I don’t understand how someone becomes the new It Girl or whatever the male equivalent is (is there one?). So she’s white, blonde, thin with big boobs and an okay actress. She was the least exciting thing on The White Lotus imo, I haven’t seen Euphoria. I don’t think I’m the target demographic.
“so she’s white, blonde, thin with big boobs and an okay actress.”
Often that’s all that’s needed for people to praise someone to the skies as an upcoming actress. She was ok in Euphoria. I wouldn’t call her a new Streep or something.
Maybe, with time, I’ll feel differently, but I haven’t understood the appeal and buzz around Sweeney at all, and I still don’t. I do appreciate what she said about intimacy coordinators and her acknowledgement that she’s fortunate.
I’m with ya. I feel the same as you do!
I can’t stand her
I’m inclined to root for her simply for the reason she’s not a nepo baby or from a rich background – I can hardly think of actors nowdays who fit that description.
That’s so true about the nepo babies.
There’s been a multiple actors/celebs that I’ve recently learned are child of, grandchild of, neibling of a famous, established, wealthy person, to the point I’m wondering if there’s anyone getting opportunities in that business who aren’t related to other celebs.
It’s like if all the nepo folks, and white dude bros who went to elite colleges with other white dude bros were suddenly transported to an alternate dimension, would there be *anyone* left working in visible or influential positions in mainstream show business?
Most of the cast of Euphoria are not nepotism babies, except for Maude Apatow. Zendaya isn’t.
But I don’t see anyone hyping up Alexa Demie, Barbie Fereira or Storm Reid.
This. Many of the people she works with aren’t nepo babies and are far more talented than she is.
I never watched Euphoria, I’m just talking about the current crop of actors and actresses who are on the cusp of making it big, like Timothee Chalamet or Florence Pugh, come from wealth.
Wow came here to say the exact same thing but now I feel like we’re piling on but she’s not all that interesting to me either. I only remember her in white lotus and I’ve seen other things she’s been in but can’t remember her even being there. And I only think I remember her in white lotus because I remembered hearing she was the new it girl and I thought really that’s her? She got the Emmy nomination mainly because Hollywood decided that’s the series we are going to shower with Emmys. It was good but for other reasons besides the acting. And I hate how to show that you’ve made it you’ve got to get a part in MCU. I’ll go down screaming against that.
Can reporters and society stop acting like a girl of 25 is somehow failing/violating the social contract if she wants to be a parent but isn’t having kids in her 20s?!!
Seriously she could say “I don’t want kids at 25” and that should be a good enough answer instead of needing to go through the whole “I can’t take time off”
She’s 25. Let her breathe a little
Other than that, I don’t know who she is really. I am abroad and don’t have HBO or American streaming services (and if I did, I would still only be watching the Law and Orders.)
That was my reaction too. I’m also not American but 25 seems really early to have kids, especially for a professional woman who is still trying to build her career. I thought it was sad that she would have to answer questions about that or defend her choice.
When she talks about people who support you, but are waiting for your downfall, I think she doesn’t understand the reality of working in a field where lots and lots of people are passing through. You wish them all well, but you can’t get too attached because the vast majority of them aren’t going to be there long term. Yes, you make friends, but to expect that from everyone isn’t healthy. Or maybe she’s talking about everyone being competitive.
I know everyone complains about the nepo babies, but the other option seems to be working class family that sacrificed everyone else getting their actor child into the industry. That doesn’t seem healthy.
When I was younger, there was a line drawn between child/teen actors and adults. Having been a child actor seemed to be held against you. There was the occasional breakthrough: Jodie Foster or Natalie Portman. But now it seems expected that teens will be played by teens and that they will go on working and have adult careers. So actors in their early twenties may have a decade or more of professional experience. I think that is why we are seeing so many actors with either industry or exploitative stage families. Really hard for someone who grew up normally and went to college to compete.
She ok actress she white blonde and blue eyes with big boobs so of course society will bend over backwards to make excuses for her . If she not a trump supporter then she should say so in this day and age where trumps supporters are doing everything then can to take away woman rights black people rights . People on here are already to give her the benefit of the doubt just because she wasn’t born in the industry she work hard ok I’m pretty sure her all white privileged and looks got her more casting opportunity then a black actress.
She looks good on the cover, it looks like her hair is darker. I think she may look better with a brown hair shade.
Yeah sure. I still don’t have time for her. I’ve watched her in Euphoria, but maybe she’s better in White Lotus. I hope so. I’m sure she works hard in the gym. Acting meh.
Funny, I don’t recognize her as the same woman with blond or brown hair or with and without freckles. I guess that means she can morph into many roles, but her looks are truly forgettable. And I do side-eye that Magat party. I think she should explain her association with Magats, either she is or is not one. She wants to have it both ways. Without the party pics, no, she doesn’t need to explain anything. But given the pics, which show Magat endorsement, then yes, she can say, “My family’s politics aren’t my own,” or, “I’m proud to be aligned to the party that will turn America into a fascist state.” It IS that important. Please vote tomorrow!!!!