Sydney Sweeney talked openly about how her breakout role as Cassie in HBO’s hit show Euphoria changed her life. Since the show started, she said, she has gotten used to being sexualized by both fans and critics. On SiriusXM’s “The Julia Cunningham Show,” the 28-year-old actress explained that the public’s strong connection between her and the very sexualized character has affected the kinds of roles she gets offered. Consequently, it can be hard for casting directors and viewers to tell the actress apart from her famous role.
Sweeney said, “I’ve been dealing with it since ‘Euphoria,’ so I’m kind of used to it at this point.” Moreover, she noted that Cassie became a cultural icon for a generation. This makes it even harder for people to separate her real self from the character’s persona. Additionally, she explained how her later roles in projects like Reality, Christy, Americana, and Eden actively work against this idea. These roles demonstrate how flexible and deep she is as an actress.
Recently, Sweeney was honored for her work as an advocate at Variety’s 2025 Power of Women event. Notably, she dedicated her award to professional boxer Christy Martin, whom she played in the upcoming movie Christy. Reflecting on Martin’s story, Sweeney found similarities with her own time in Hollywood. She focused on themes of resilience and perseverance. “I know how it feels to be underestimated and have people define you before you have a chance to define yourself,” she said. Furthermore, she encouraged people to recognize strength in quiet persistence.
Known for her daring fashion choices, Sweeney wore a sheer silver dress to the event, which showed off her confidence and femininity. Her Euphoria co-star Sharon Stone backed her outfit choice, calling it a celebration of natural beauty. Stone encouraged everyone to embrace their own “hotness.”
Overall, Sydney’s honesty about dealing with typecasting and sexualization shows how determined she is to change what it means to be a woman in Hollywood today. She represents someone who doesn’t fit into narrow categories and thrives on complexity, empowerment, and authenticity.
