From prestige dramas to horror movies,Sydney Sweeneyis here, there, and everywhere. She currently stars inImmaculate, yet anothernun-based horror film, as a devout young American invited to join an Italian convent for covert reasons. Though its hardly Sweeney’s first foray into the horror genre,Immaculateis her first horror film with a wide theatrical release, and her performance as Cecilia is yet another testament to her versatility as an actress.The two-time Emmy-nominated actress is best known for her breakout role as Cassie Howard inEuphoria, but had several small yet impressive performances before she earned greater popularity from HBO’s massively popular teen drama. She also recently starred alongsideGlen Powellin the unexpectedly successful romantic comedyAnyone But Youin December and asJulia Cornwall / Spider-WomaninMadame Webearlier this year. However, Sweeney’s best work comes in more substantial roles, especially those dealing with darker, heavier subject matter.
Immaculate
Cecilia, a woman of devout faith, is warmly welcomed to the picture-perfect Italian countryside where she is offered a new role at an illustrious convent. But it becomes clear to Cecilia that her new home harbors dark and horrifying secrets.
Sydney Sweeney’s Early Roles Foreshadowed Her Success
Sweeney has been working in Hollywood from a young age, starting with one-episode roles in shows likeCriminal Minds,Grey’s Anatomy, and even the series finale ofPretty Little Liars. Her first main role was in Netflix’s short-lived teen dramedyEverything Sucks!in 2018, and she had recurring roles inThe Handmaid’s TaleandSharp Objectsthat same year, having no trouble holding her own alongside the likes ofElisabeth MossandAmy Adamsrespectively. In Season 2 ofThe Handmaid’s Tale, Sweeney plays 15-year-old Eden, a young girl raised exclusively within the oppressive society of Gilead with no knowledge of life before the fall of the United States. She has a wide-eyed innocence that even the most brainwashed adults in Gildead do not, suffering from anxiety and loneliness when her new, much older husband Nick (Max Minghella) doesn’t want to consummate their marriage. Eden’s character makes a significant impact in just seven episodes, thanks in large part to Sweeney’s performance, as Eden’s pious naïveté evolves into a sense of quiet rebellion.
Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Immaculate’ Scares Up Historic Opening Weekend at the Domestic Box Office
The Sweeney-led and produced horror movie has scored Neon’s biggest opening weekend ever domestically.
In the HBO limited seriesSharp Objects, based onGillian Flynn’s novel of the same name, Sweeney plays Alice, Camille’s (Adams) 16-year-old roommate during her stay at a psychiatric hospital. They bond over their shared struggle with self-harm, and Camille soon takes on an older sister role, sharing tender moments with Alice that we never see her have with her actual younger half-sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen). Sweeney appears in just one episode ofSharp Objects, but her character is essential to understanding Camille, and her performance as the sarcastic yet vulnerable teenager in need of a friend is affecting even in its brevity.Her short-lived roles in these two series with such heavy subject matter paved the way for many of her future roles, and for her breakout role inEuphoria,which would come just one year later in 2019.
‘Euphoria’ Allowed Sweeney to Develop Her Dramatic Acting Chops
While her career continues to blossom, Sweeney is still best known for her role as the sweet and soft-spoken Cassie, a popular cheerleader who doubles as Euphoria High’s resident sad girl. Episode 7 of the first season gives us Cassie’s backstory, detailing her abandonment issues stemming from her father, which manifest in her constant need for male attention and validation. She’s objectified and slut-shamed by the boys at her school, and despite her beauty, is plagued by insecurities.Sweeney defines Cassie’s character with a pervasive sense of melancholy,a lonely teenage girl trying to mold herself into a version that others – particularly men – will love beyond just her looks. The significant tonal shift inEuphoria’s second season leads to Cassie’s character becoming utterly flanderized, turning her back on Maddy (Alexa Demie), her supposed best friend, and starting a secret sexual relationship with Nate (Jacob Elordi).
In Season 2, as Cassie’s relationship with Nate continues, she becomes obsessed with tailoring her looks and demeanor to his liking, but still carries the guilt of betraying Maddy, desperate to keep their relationship a secret from her. In short, her behavior ventures into some seriously unhinged territory. Sweeney makes the best ofSam Levinson’s writing in Season 2, and her performance, which earned her one of two Emmy nominations in 2022, also brought us some of the most memorable moments of the season. Cassie’s behavior ranges from pathetic to cringeworthy, often resulting in a hilarious combination of the two. Even without dialogue, Sweeney’s doe eyes speak for themselves, often adopting a crazed look thatperfectly reflects Cassie’s rapidly declining mental state, and she even has her ownJokermoment in the season finale.
Sydney Sweeney Commands Attention in ‘Reality’
In most of her roles, Sweeney is just one part of a larger ensemble, but in the 2023 docu-dramaReality, all eyes are on her. She plays the role ofAmerican whistleblower Reality WinnerinTina Satter’s tense drama that draws directly from the FBI’s interrogation of Winner in 2017. Reality’s “no-makeup” look is a stark contrast to the always dolled-up Cassie, who’s rarely seen without some kind of shimmery eyeshadow or intricate eyeliner. Most of the film takes place in an empty white room and Sweeney only hasJosh HamiltonandMarchánt Davis— who play the lead FBI agents — to interact with, meaning the film relies largely on her performance. And she doesn’t disappoint.
Realityis a dialogue-heavy film, but the most impressive aspect of Sweeney’s performance is the way her body language shifts throughout the interrogation.When the FBI first shows up at her door, she initially seems genuinely confused by their presence, but once they explain the reason for their visit, she attempts to disguise her nervousness by adopting a demeanor of forced nonchalance. She doesn’t ask many questions and isn’t very forthcoming when answering them, forcing Agent Garrick (Hamilton) to coax bits of information out of her. When Agent Garrick reveals just how much they know about her illegal activities, Reality’s demeanor immediately shifts as the reality (pun intended) of her situation starts to settle in. Suddenly, she’s pacing, stammering, and wringing her hands, and she abandons her previous attempts to maintain a neutral facial expression. It’s arguably her strongest and most complex performance to date and shows she most certainly has the gravitas needed to take on more lead roles in the future.
Sydney Sweeney Is Not Your Average Bombshell
While Sweeney has excelled in dramatic roles throughout her career, she hasn’t limited herself to one genre. InEuphoriaSeason 2, she leans into the absurdity of Cassie’s character to great effect, resulting in some genuinely funny moments in a series that typically has no room for levity. As Olivia in Season 1 ofThe White Lotus, Sweeney plays a sarcastic college student embarrassed by her own privilege, and her deadpan performance makes her a compelling side character (and earned her a second Emmy nomination in 2022). She also recently tried her hand at a romantic comedy in last year’sAnyone But You.Though she isn’t quite as light on her feet asGlen Powell’s former rom-com co-starZoey Deutch,it was an interesting change of pace and a test of her range as an actress.
LikeMargot Robbie, Sydney Sweeney has become something of a contemporary blonde bombshell in Hollywood and has been subject to frequent objectification on social media, which is often used to discredit her talent. Both women have done nude and/or sex scenes in the past, but have also delivered consistently high-quality performances throughout their respective careers. Like Robbie, her filmmaking talents go behind the camera as well, serving as a producer forAnyone But YouandImmaculate. Her supporting role inMadame Webmarked her first venture into a superhero franchise, but her most recent lead role inImmaculateis much more substantial and plays better to her strengths as an actress.
InImmaculate,her third collaboration with directorMichael Mohan, Sweeney stars as Cecilia, a young American woman who joins an Italian convent in hopes that God will reveal her true purpose. Despite her vow of chastity, Cecilia soon discovers she’s pregnant, and the members of the convent begin treating her like the next Virgin Mary while Cecilia grows suspicious that things are not as holy as they seem. As demonstrated in some of her previous roles, like Cassie inEuphoriaand Pippa inThe Voyeurs, Sweeney shines when she’s playing characters at the end of their rope, devolving into obsessive and unhinged behavior. She gets the chance to do so again inImmaculate, though it’s a much tougher watch given Cecilia’s distressing circumstances dealing with an excruciating pregnancy, social isolation, and men who don’t take her pain seriously.
For much of the film, Cecilia is a fish out of water, slowly discovering the convent’s dark secrets, but Sweeney’s performance is at its best inthe third act, which sees Cecilia rebel against the nuns and Father Tedeschi (Álvaro Morte), fighting her way out of the convent while in labor. When Cecilia finally gives birth,the camera remains fixed solely on Sweeney’s face, covered in blood as she screams in agony, in a scene that truly cements her skill as a horror actress.
Sydney Sweeney is the real deal, and whether you know her fromEuphoriaor are just discovering her inAnyone But YouorMadame Web, her earlier, darker roles, and her most recent venture into the horror genre withImmaculateare worth checking out.
