Article: Sydney Sweeney: Way Tougher than she Looks!
Sydney Sweeney: Way Tougher than she Looks!
Sydney Sweeney, born on September 12, 1997, in Spokane, Washington, is one of Hollywood’s most promising young actresses. Best known for her roles in HBO’s Euphoria and The White Lotus, Sweeney has captivated audiences with her emotional range, depth of character, and authenticity.
Early Life and Ambitions
Growing up in Spokane, Sweeney didn’t have built-in show business connections. Her family wasn’t involved in entertainment, and their lives were far removed from the glam of Los Angeles. But Sweeney, who discovered her passion for acting as a child, wasn’t deterred. At 12 years old, she created a five-year business plan (in Power Point!) to convince her parents to let her pursue acting—doesn’t this sound like something Elle Woods would do??
The Sweeney family traveled frequently between Spokane and Los Angeles so Sydney could attend auditions. Shortly after her business plan win, she landed her first roles, including a guest spot on Criminal Minds in 2009, marking the start of her acting career. The constant travel was expensive, and at one point, she says her family risked losing their home to support her dream of becoming an actress. Fortunately, over the next few years, she continued to land small parts, including a guest role on Grey's Anatomy in 2014.
College Life and Sorority Membership
In 2017, in parallel with her growing acting career, Sweeney enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she majored in business and tried to balance actress life and a typical college experience. Part of this experience included joining the Alpha Phi sorority, a choice that allowed her to form meaningful connections outside of the entertainment business.
Sweeney has often emphasized how important it was for her to have friends who knew her before her Hollywood fame. Being part of Alpha Phi provided her with a strong support system, a sense of community, and a space to be herself
As her acting career began to accelerate, with a lead role in In the Vault, a recurring part in Everything Sucks! and a steady stream of IMDb credits in both movies and television including Sharp Objects and The Handmaid’s Tale, Sweeney paused her studies to focus on acting full-time.
Breakthrough Roles: Euphoria and The White Lotus
In 2019, Sweeney’s Cassie Howard in HBO’s popular Euphoria put her on the map. The character of Cassie, who grapples with feelings of insecurity, self-worth, and her relationship with men, resonated with many viewers. Sweeney’s performance was widely praised for its raw vulnerability and complexity.
Her role in HBO’s The White Lotus further pushed her range as an actress. Sweeney played Olivia Mossbacher, a sharp-tongued, cynical college student. The character’s entitlement and sarcasm made Olivia somehow both unlikeable and strangely relatable (so relatable!), and Sweeney’s ability to balance these traits added depth to her portrayal and earned rave reviews.
When asked about her attraction to complex characters, Sweeney shared, "I look for characters that feel real, flawed, and complicated. I want people to relate to them, whether they love or hate them. I don’t want to play a character that’s one-dimensional."
Feminism and Women’s Empowerment
Offscreen, Sydney Sweeney has become a vocal advocate for women’s empowerment and gender equality, particularly within the entertainment industry. She’s spoken candidly about the pressures women face in Hollywood and the limited ways they are often portrayed. In a 2021 interview, Sweeney addressed the double standards for women in the industry: "We’re put in these boxes where we’re either 'the pretty one' or 'the smart one,' and that’s such a narrow view of who we are. I want to break those boxes and play characters that are messy and real, just like the women I know in real life."
Sweeney is passionate about changing the way women are represented in film and television. She frequently chooses roles that allow her to showcase women’s complexity, vulnerability, and strength. Her commitment to breaking down stereotypes reflects her broader goal of advocating for more authentic portrayals of women in Hollywood.
More Roles and Fifty-Fifty Films
After her success in Euphoria and The White Lotus, Sydney Sweeney continued to expand her career with diverse and impactful roles. In 2023, she starred as reality winner in the film Reality, portraying the real-life whistleblower with depth and subtlety, earning further critical praise. Sweeney’s portrayal of Cassie in Euphoria's second season (2022) also brought her widespread acclaim, earning her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Looking to extend her influence beyond acting, Sweeney launched her production company, Fifty-Fifty Films, to bring more female-led stories to the forefront. One of the company’s first projects, The Players Table, is a miniseries adaptation of Jessica Goodman’s novel They Wish They Were Us, where Sweeney stars alongside Halsey. She’s said that she seeks to create more opportunities for women, both in front of and behind the camera, through Fifty-Fifty Films,
In addition to her work as a producer, Sweeney has taken on new roles. She is set to appear in Sony’s Madame Web (2024), which marks her entry into the world of superheros, and she is also developing a new adaptation of the iconic sci-fi classic Barbarella, where she will star and executive produce. These projects highlight her versatility and growing influence as both an actress and producer in Hollywood.
A True Partner
As of the most recent reports, Sydney Sweeney has been in a long-term relationship with Jonathan Davino, a Chicago-based businessman. The couple has kept their relationship relatively private, but they’ve been photographed together at public events and in Feb 2022, the couple confirmed their engagement. The worked together to co-produce Anything But You which seems like a strong start for this partnership.
“Everyone is always so curious about who I’m with and what’s that like, but I think it’s important to have something for me.”
Big Fashion Moments
Sydney Sweeney has become a fixture on the fashion scene, particularly through her appearances at major events like the Met Gala and fashion weeks. Her style has been praised for its blend of elegance and youthful boldness. Some standout fashion moments include:
- Met Gala 2022: Sweeney made her Met Gala debut in a striking custom Tory Burch gown (Tory’s a Kappa Alpha Theta, btw.) The look featured a two-in-one design—starting with a voluminous cream-colored dress that she transformed into a sleek corset-style mini dress by the end of the night.
- Euphoria Season 2 Premiere (2022): Sweeney was a knockout in a shimmering Miu Miu two-piece set. The midriff-baring look was bold yet sophisticated and all over IG within minutes!
- Venice Film Festival 2023: Sweeney attended the Venice Film Festival in a STUNNING halter top Giorgio Armani gown and was featured in every fashion spread.
Sweeney has also been tapped as the face of several high-profile fashion campaigns. She became the face of Miu Miu in 2022 and has worked with Tory Burch, Armani Beauty, Guess and Laneige.
But it’s not all high fashion! She says, “I honestly don't think I have one specific style. One day, I could be wearing a workout track suit, and another day, I could be wearing overalls and a tank top. Or I love a slip with corset. It just honestly depends on where I am in the world and what I'm doing and how I'm feeling that day.”
Staying Grounded (and Grubby!)
Despite her increasing fame, Sydney Sweeney is known for staying grounded. She frequently shares moments from her personal life on social media, offering glimpses of her hobbies and passions, like working on her car, working out, and spending time outdoors.
Sweeney has a passion for buying and restoring classic cars and shares her collection and updates on her TikTok account @syds_garage. She restored a baby blue 1965 Ford Mustang she calls Britney and then ended up working with the brand to design a custom Mustang GT that was ultimately won by a lucky fan. We love a red carpet star who also gets her hands dirty! Maybe even cooler, she worked with Ford and Dickies to develop two limited edition lines of workwear called Ford x Sydney Sweeney.
In addition to her acting career, Sweeney is also dedicated to martial arts. She has trained in mixed martial arts (MMA) since the age of 14 and has even competed in grappling tournaments. "MMA taught me discipline and confidence," she shared in an interview. "It’s an empowering feeling, knowing that you can take care of yourself." This training will come in handy when she takes on the role of champion boxer Christy Martin in an upcoming biopic.
Looking Ahead
With multiple upcoming projects in the works, including acting and producing roles, she’s positioned herself not just as an actress but as a leader and advocate for women in the entertainment industry. And then there’s the cars and the fashion. This Alpha Phi works hard!
Whether through her acting or her work behind the scenes, Sydney Sweeney is proving that she’s here to stay—and she’s not afraid to challenge Hollywood stereotypes while doing it. We like how Sweeney's ethos lines up with Alpha Phi and sorority women everywhere who are doing our best to smash the negative sorority tropes!
