Sydney Sweeney Opens Up About When the Criticism Really Started Hitting

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Sydney Sweeney has moved from being a popular TV actress to a more controversial movie star by carefully choosing when to speak out and when to stay quiet. For a long time, she was known mostly for her roles on HBO, where she showed off her acting range. She gained attention playing Olivia in The White Lotus, a character who confidently expressed the values of her generation, and as Cassie in Euphoria, a character whose intense desire for love led to a very public and emotional breakdown.

Sydney Sweeney explains that she first experienced harsh online criticism after appearing in ‘Euphoria.’ While her career initially took off, navigating the internet has become much more difficult. She tells Cosmopolitan that because she often plays flawed or unlikeable characters, people sometimes mistakenly assume those traits reflect her own personality. Sweeney believes the recent criticism she’s received has become much more intense, fueled by sensationalized headlines and false stories.

Increased attention to the way brands use celebrity endorsements likely started with an American Eagle campaign in July 2025. The campaign’s tagline, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” was intended as a lighthearted joke, but some people criticized it for subtly referencing eugenics. The situation escalated when users shared her voter registration information online, leading to demands that she be held accountable for her political views.

Even with all the public attention, Sweeney has consistently demonstrated her talent as a successful businesswoman and producer. She played a key role in bringing romantic comedies back to popularity with the film Anyone But You, which earned over $220 million globally. A significant part of this success came from her clever marketing, including using and even encouraging speculation about a relationship with her co-star, Glen Powell, to boost ticket sales.

Sydney Sweeney, at 28, continues to be a very busy and bold actor. Her recent role in the psychological thriller The Housemaid, directed by Paul Feig, has been a huge success, earning almost $300 million worldwide. The film, co-starring Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, proved she can carry a thrilling, suspenseful movie.

Her latest movie, Christy, a biopic about boxer Christy Martin, required a major physical change for the actress. Although the film didn’t attract huge crowds in theaters, it received some of the best reviews of her career. Critics especially admired her powerful and realistic performance, noting that she went beyond her typical glamorous image.

Sydney Sweeney has several exciting projects coming up, covering a range of different types of films and shows. She’s going to star in a live-action version of Gundam for Netflix, directed by Jim Mickle and alongside Noah Centineo. She’s also set to play Kim Novak in a biographical film called Scandalous!, and will eventually reprise her role in the highly anticipated third season of Euphoria.

Throughout her career, and especially in 2026, she continues to grapple with how her art is seen versus what she intends it to mean. She notes that the current situation is even more complex, explaining, “It’s not just about what people think, but about them actively creating stories to fit their own agendas and attract attention.” Ultimately, Sweeney emphasizes that her work is driven by the narrative itself, even when viewers are more interested in the underlying message or politics.

She consistently takes risks by choosing roles that defy what people expect. Whether she’s portraying a business leader in a tense thriller or a famous boxer, she’s taking control of her image by being seen. She willingly shares her vulnerability, but ultimately leaves it up to the audience to decide how they interpret her on screen.

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2026-01-30 12:46