1674987686 Sydney Sweeney I struggled with my looks as a teenager

Sydney Sweeney: ‘I struggled with my looks as a teenager’

Sydney Sweeney (Spokane, Washington, USA, 25 years old) learned in an unrewarding way that she had become a famous actress: “I remember they first recognized me after the premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale. In a restaurant in Chicago, a woman came up to me and said, ‘I hate you.’ At first I thought why, if we didn’t know each other, and then I realized he was talking about my character on the show Eden,” he recalled smiling on a video call from Los Angeles. That first fame came after nearly a decade of struggling in Hollywood with small, non-rent-paying roles.

When she was just a teenager, her family had bet on her: they’d sold their home in the small northwestern town where Sweeney grew up surrounded by nature, and all moved to California so she could fulfill her desires. But work didn’t come and they lived in a motel when he signed for The Handmaid’s Tale and Open Wounds along with Amy Adams. Those series changed everything and a year later, Euphoria made her one of the most famous performers of her generation. Today he collects covers, almost 15 million followers on Instagram, awards and nominations. He has also just signed his first major endorsement deal for Armani Beauty perfumes, a recent sign of success in the industry.

Sydney Sweeney

“The first time I was recognized was after the premiere of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’ In a restaurant, out of the blue, a woman came up to me and said, “I hate you,” says Sydney Sweeney. Photo: Jonas Lindstrom for Armani Beauty

She received two Emmy nominations for Euphoria and White Lotus last year, but success was years away. What made you decide to keep going even though you were only a teenager?
Acting has been my dream, I love it, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I always knew I couldn’t afford to fail and that I would keep working and working and working until it clicked. I am very grateful that I had the privilege of bringing to life these characters who meant so much to people and who put me in the position I am in today.

They are roles that unleash passions. Euphoria is the most-watched series in HBO history, behind only Game of Thrones. How do you deal with this world fame?
I think it’s about being myself. I get a lot out of traveling because I meet amazing people or a lot of fans who inspire me to do what I do. So I would say I enjoy it.

Speaking of exposure, you’ve repeatedly gone viral with your statements, what’s your relationship with the networks like?
I have a dog, Tank, and she is my support and my be-all and end-all for my sanity. It just makes me happy and it’s been there ever since high school.

Why did you, like so many actresses in recent years, decide to start your own production company Fifty-Fifty Films?
I’ve always wanted to take control of the narrative and create my own stories. When I approach a new character, I build a book of their entire life, and when I’m producing, I have the freedom to take that book and create an entire world, not just for my own character. There is something fascinating about being able to find different stories – whether from books or original stories – and bring them to life; because I can look for different people’s voices and amplify them.

In a famous episode of Euphoria, her character Cassie loses her mind over cosmetics and tries to become someone else. What is your personal relationship to beauty?
I think I’ve always known how to balance skincare and beauty and my relationship with it. I certainly struggled with my looks as a teenager, and that was a learning journey. But I’ve discovered that beauty comes from within and that’s what matters most in the end.

What’s the first thing you remember?
One of the most important memories I have from my childhood is of my mother. She always put a dab of cream on her face and I vividly remember the smell. And also that he thought I didn’t want to smell like that [lanza una carcajada].

And how is your daily routine today?
More than being a girl who wears makeup, I mainly try to keep my skin clean. My daily cosmetics are a little bit of blush and a little bit of concealer. And done.

A year ago she said she was wearing My Way by Giorgio Armani, and now she’s the effigy of the line’s newest fragrance.
When they told me I was beyond excited because it’s a fragrance I love and it seems very nice to be part of this family. I think my way [a mi manera] It’s a philosophy that suits me and my way of understanding the world because I’m a free spirit.

What did you think of the company before you worked with them?
I’ve been a huge Armani fan for a number of years. A while ago my makeup artist Melissa Hernandez introduced me to her foundations and I’ve been absolutely obsessed with all of her products ever since.

Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeney poses with Armani Beauty’s new fragrance, which she portrays, My Way Parfum. Photo: Jonas Lindstrom for Armani Beauty