From the Small Screen to Scream Queen: Sydney Sweeney’s rise from TV to Movie Star

In every binge-worthy television series, there’s always one performer who stands out. Whether that’s the funny friend or the villain who drives the protagonist’s arc. When we consider who has been memorable in ensemble casts in recent years, one name springs to mind – Sydney Sweeney. Following her breakout role as Cassie Howard in Sam Levinson’s critically acclaimed teen drama Euphoria, Sweeney has become one of the most recognisable actresses working today. She has secured key roles in television series such as The White Lotus and now box office hits like Anyone But You. To celebrate the release of her latest film IMMACULATE, we take a look at Sydney Sweeney’s rise from standout performances on the small screen to leading film roles.

Eden Spencer, The Handmaid’s Tale

Based on Margaret Atwood’s dystopian classic of the same name, Sweeney’s recurring role in season two of The Handmaid’s Tale was a scene-stealer and her brutal demise heavily impacted key characters June (Elisabeth Moss) and Serena Joy Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski). Her portrayal of 15-year-old Eden Spencer highlighted the key themes of the series, in which the fictional world of Gilead is ruled by totalitarianism and the oppression of women who are forced to produce children for the ruling class of “Commanders”.

After being coerced into marrying Nick (Max Minghella), Sweeney’s Eden is soon betrayed by her own father for attempting to flee the regime with her lover Isaac. Despite promising to be let go following an admission of guilt, Eden refuses to submit to her oppressors, choosing a cruel fate of public execution. Eden’s death demonstrated both her hopeless situation in Gilead but also a subtle act of rebellion. This early role highlighted Sweeney’s emotional intensity in her approach to her roles.

Alice, Sharp Objects

Moving onto another book-to-television project, Sweeney secured the role of Alice in the adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s novel Sharp Objects, a psychological miniseries opposite Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson. Following Adams’s character Camille, a reporter suffering from alcoholism, she encounters Sweeney’s Alice during her stay at a facility for people who self-harm.

As we learn more about Camille’s past, Camille and Alice begin to bond over their shared trauma and soon look to each other for comfort and support. In a shocking twist, Camille returns to her room one night to find Alice has committed suicide. Despite initially being an unnamed character in the book, simply known as “the roommate”, Sweeney took on a much more significant role than her book counterpart. Although Sweeney appeared in just one episode of Sharp Objects, her death acted as the catalyst for much of Camille’s character arc, as she is haunted by the teenage girl she could not save. Similarly to her role in The Handmaid’s Tale, Sweeney portrayed a teenager whose life was cut short and led to extreme implications for the protagonist, making her small but significant role that much more memorable.

Cassie Howard, Euphoria

In what has to be her most recognisable role to date, Sweeney’s portrayal of Cassie Howard in HBO’s teen drama Euphoria has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, which led to much online discourse during the show’s current two-season run. Although centred around Zendaya’s Rue, Cassie’s storylines and Sweeney’s performance have sparked much conversation and debate amongst viewers, particularly from season two of the controversial series.

Whilst Cassie was initially the quintessential popular teenage girl, her insecurities come to light during the first season as we follow her relationship with fellow student and football player McKay and see how her deep-rooted abandonment issues cause a strain on both her romantic and platonic relationships. This is a core theme in Cassie’s season two storyline, as her friendship with her best friend Maddy crumbles upon Maddy’s discovery of Cassie and her abusive ex-boyfriend Nate’s affair. Cassie becomes the season’s anti-hero, with Sweeney’s performance generating viral TikTok videos for THAT hot tub scene and her screaming that she has “never ever been happier” whilst in the middle of an emotional breakdown. Whether you love Cassie or you hate her, there is little doubt that Sweeney’s performance will go down as one of the most talked about in recent memory, and ultimately led to her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2022.

Olivia Mossbacher, The White Lotus

As television productions shut down during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sweeney booked her next role, taking on the part of Olivia Mossbacher in The White Lotus. Mike White’s anthology series revolved around the guests and employees at a fictional luxury resort in Hawaii, with season one exploring themes of white privilege and social class. As Olivia, the teenage daughter of Mark and Nicole Mossbacher, Sweeney is manipulative and spoilt. Olivia and her best friend Paula believe themselves to be the voices of the “woke” generation, yet they judge others before eventually turning on each other during their stay.

In her role as Olivia, Sweeney incorporates elements of a typical mean girl role but with more complexity. She speaks with subtle condescension to those she views as inferior, making remarks about those around her, along with snide facial expressions as she reads philosophical books (that she is most definitely reading). For her role as Olivia, Sweeney scooped up her second Primetime Emmy Award nomination in the same year as her nomination for Euphoria.

Bea, Anyone But You

Sydney Sweeney can now add rom-com hit to her already impressive roster as she ventures from the small screen to the big screen. A modern re-telling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Will Gluck’s 2023 film has marked the return of the much-needed romantic comedy in this hugely successful offering. Sweeney portrays Bea, a law student who meets and instantly connects with Glen Powell’s Ben before a mutual misunderstanding leads to them both feeling rejected and bitter. When they are reunited for a wedding, Bea and Ben must pretend they are together for the sake of their family and friends, incorporating the infamous fake-dating trope.

This charming rom-com is aided by Sweeney and Powell’s palpable chemistry throughout the film. Anyone But You has highlighted Sweeney’s range and capabilities, going from vastly different roles in television dramas to a box office hit and crowd-pleaser. With Anyone But You, Sweeney has demonstrated her knack for comedy and, as an audience, we can never hear Natasha Bedingfield’s hit single Unwritten without thinking of these two.

Cecilia, Immaculate

In a brisk U-turn from a light and fun rom-com, Sweeney will next be seen in frequent collaborator Michael Mohan’s horror Immaculate, in which she also serves as a producer. Sweeney will portray Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith who joins an Italian convent, only to discover her new home holds a dark secret.

For fans of sinister, on-the-edge-of-your-seat horror films, Immaculate is a must-watch. Mohan’s film incorporates jump scares in all the right places, with Sweeney’s chilling performance at the core of the narrative in what has to be her most physically demanding role yet.

Immaculate is in UK and Ireland cinemas 22 March.