Early work (2009–2019) As a child actress, Sweeney debuted on television in 2009 with a bit part in an episode of the series
Heroes. Her first film role was in the 2010 horror comedy
ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction. She played supporting roles in television shows such as
90210,
Criminal Minds, ''
Grey's Anatomy and Pretty Little Liars''. Sweeney had a role in the 2018 film
Under the Silver Lake. She had a recurring role in the second season of the dystopian drama series ''
The Handmaid's Tale as Eden Spencer, a pious and obedient girl from the totalitarian and theocratic Republic of Gilead. In 2019, Sweeney appeared in the drama film Clementine, the coming-of-age film Big Time Adolescence'', and
Quentin Tarantino's
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Breakthrough (2019–2023) in 2023 In June 2019, Sweeney took the role of
Cassie Howard, a teenager with a reputation for promiscuity, in the
HBO drama series
Euphoria. The show was a breakout hit, becoming the second most watched HBO series. Her performance was praised, earning her a nomination for the
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in
2022.
Variety wrote that her performance "proves that Sweeney's one hell of a shapeshifter between her deft turns in this, ''The Handmaid's Tale
, Everything Sucks
and Sharp Objects''." Her many nude scenes in the series received significant attention, generating discussions about
nudity in film and the
male gaze. In 2020, Sweeney founded the production company Fifty-Fifty Films. The same year, she starred in the television film
Nocturne and
Webtoon's live-action advertisement for the online comic
Lore Olympus, appearing as Persephone. In 2021, Sweeney appeared in the first season of
Mike White's anthology series
The White Lotus For that performance, she was nominated for the
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie in
2022. She appeared on the
Time 100 Next list for 2022. In 2023, Sweeney starred as
U.S. Air Force veteran
Reality Winner in
Tina Satter's thriller drama
Reality, which premiered in February at the
73rd Berlin Film Festival. Steph Green of
IndieWire called the film "inventively mounted and extraordinarily tense" and Sweeney "the real deal". Jessica Kiang of
Variety wrote that she played Winner "so convincingly that it's hard to remember her as the sardonic, pampered teen in
The White Lotus, or the nice-girl-turned-nasty in
Euphoria". Sweeney next had a role in the crime thriller
Americana, which premiered at the
South by Southwest Festival in March 2023. Sweeney starred in the video for
the Rolling Stones' single "
Angry", from their 2023 album
Hackney Diamonds. In response to criticism that the video objectified her, she defended it as "empowerment through embracing my body". At age 25, Sweeney was selected as one of
Forbes's 2023
30 Under 30 in the celebrity category. Later that year, she and
Glen Powell starred in the romantic comedy
Anyone but You, which premiered in December 2023. Sweeney was an executive producer for the film and was instrumental in hiring Powell and director
Will Gluck. She also contributed to the script. The film became a commercial
sleeper hit, grossing over $220 million worldwide.
Established actress (2024–present) In 2024, Sweeney had a supporting role in the
superhero film Madame Web, set in
Sony's Spider-Man Universe franchise. It was released in February and received negative reviews,
bombing at the box office. Of the film's commercial and critical failure, Sweeney said, "I was just hired as an actress in it, so I was just along for the ride for whatever was going to happen." In March 2024, Sweeney hosted an episode of
Saturday Night Live. Following her appearance, conservative Canadian newspaper
National Post ran an article asking "Are Sydney Sweeney's breasts double-D harbingers of the death of
woke?" and right-wing academic
Richard Hanania tweeted "Wokeness is dead" alongside a clip of Sweeney centered on her bust. Sweeney called the obsession with her appearance "this weird relationship that people have with me that I have no control over". red carpet premiere of
Christy Sweeney then produced and starred in the psychological horror film
Immaculate. Sweeney has said that she considered producing a way to create opportunities for herself. Later in 2024, she co-starred in
Eden, directed by
Ron Howard. In June 2025, Sweeney starred alongside
Julianne Moore in
Echo Valley. She learned how to ride horses for the role.
Americana was released in just over 1,000 theaters in August and was labeled a
flop by the media, although
Deadline predicted that it would be profitable for an
independent film.
Christy, a biopic about boxer
Christy Martin, had its world premiere at the
2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Sweeney starred as Martin and also produced the film. Commenting on the role, Sweeney said she was inspired by Martin's strength and perseverance. She said that playing a character "that has so many layers and depths, that's a dream as an actor ... I'm a very outdoorsy, athletic person, so to play a character that [required me] to transform myself was a dream". Sweeney's performance was lauded by critic Owen Gleiberman, who wrote that Sweeney gave a "potent, true-note, game-changing knockout of a performance ... She fully expresses the soul of a movie star, which is this: She completely becomes the character, and in doing so becomes us." Though the film was well received critically, it was a box office disappointment. In the aftermath, Sweeney said: "I am so deeply proud of this movie ... We don't always just make art for numbers, we make it for impact. And
Christy has been the most impactful project of my life." In December 2025, Sweeney co-starred opposite
Amanda Seyfried in
The Housemaid, an adaptation of the
bestselling novel of the same name. The film was successful at the box office, and a sequel was put in development with Sweeney set to return in her role. In April 2026, she reprised her role of Cassie Howard in the third season of
HBO's psychological drama series
Euphoria.
Upcoming Sweeney will next star in
The Custom of the Country, written and being directed by
Josie Rourke.. Sweeney will also star in
Gundam, adapted from the Japanese
science fiction anime of the
same name, alongside
Noah Centineo. Sweeney will also reprise her role as Millie in the
Paul Feig-helmed sequel ''The Housemaid's Secret,'' with
Kirsten Dunst co-starring. Additionally, Sweeney is attached to play
Kim Novak in
Scandalous, a romantic drama to be directed by
Colman Domingo.
Brand endorsements In January 2023, Sweeney became a
brand ambassador for
Armani Beauty and
Laneige. Her other advertising deals include partnerships with
Miu Miu,
Samsung,
Ford,
Baskin-Robbins,
Cotton On and
Guess. In May 2025, she received widespread attention on
social media after partnering with personal care brand
Dr. Squatch to launch a limited-edition soap line containing her bathwater. In January 2026, Sweeney draped dozens of bras over the
Hollywood sign to promote her
Syrn lingerie brand.
American Eagle campaigns In July 2025, Sweeney appeared in an advertising campaign for
American Eagle Outfitters called "
Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans". The ad became a subject of controversy, which
The Hollywood Reporter called a "media firestorm". Some social media users, and eventually some academics, claimed that the pun on "jeans" and "genes", associated with a blonde-haired, blue-eyed white woman, promoted
eugenics and
white supremacy, while supporters of the campaign decried
wokeness and
cancel culture. The
Trump administration, and eventually
Donald Trump himself, commented on the controversy. In August 2025, media analysts interviewed by
CNN commented that Sweeney's public image had not suffered from the affair. American Eagle Outfitters later commended the results of the campaign. Sweeney initially said she was unaffected by the controversy and declined to comment further, though in December 2025 she clarified that she was "against hate". Sweeney's second campaign for American Eagle Outfitters, called "Syd for
Short", was unveiled in April 2026. ==Personal life==