Actress Sydney Sweeney has candidly shared the challenges faced during her teenage years, describing how her family’s difficult transition from Spokane, Washington, to Los Angeles led to a period of financial strain and eventual divorce. Reflecting on her experiences, Sweeney discussed how the Sydney Sweeney family struggles shaped her early ambitions in the entertainment industry.
Sharing the Reality Behind Pursuing Her Acting Career
Appearing on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Sydney Sweeney explained the weight she carried as her parents made sacrifices to support her dream of acting. The Christy star recalled that the family left their small hometown to pursue opportunities in Hollywood. She emphasized the difference in living costs, noting the shock her family felt after relocating to Los Angeles.
Sweeney described how she started accepting any available opportunities to help her resume.
“I was just doing anything that I could to have a resume built, gain connections, and make sure that my parents didn’t give up on me,”
Sydney Sweeney, Actress. She also reflected on the shift from her upbringing, remarking,
“Growing up in a small town, when you come to L.A., like most of you probably know, prices in L.A. are crazy. Not anything like where I came from,”
Sydney Sweeney, Actress.
Family Challenges Take an Emotional Toll
The pressures of Hollywood quickly became a source of strain for the Sweeney family. Sydney Sweeney revealed that her father lost his job soon after the move, which intensified their financial burden. As she recalled,
“My family filed for bankruptcy when I was 16. They filed for divorce, and I felt like a lot of it was my fault because I had brought them to the city [and] uplifted their entire lives, and I blamed myself for a long time,”
Sydney Sweeney, Actress. Despite her age, she was shouldering responsibilities beyond what most teenagers experience.
Although Sweeney had early appearances on shows like Heroes and Criminal Minds, her major break did not come until years later with roles in Everything Sucks! and Sharp Objects. Throughout her teenage years, she carried the belief that her personal achievements could somehow mend her family’s difficulties.
“So I put a lot of pressure on myself of needing to succeed and achieve all these things so I could put different things back together,”
Sydney Sweeney, Actress.
Lasting Effects and Looking Forward
Sydney Sweeney’s revelations shed light on how moving to Los Angeles and striving for an acting career profoundly shaped her adolescence. The emotional aftermath of her parents’ financial struggles and divorce continues to linger, influencing her personal and professional life. As she looks back, her honest recollections offer a window into the sacrifices and emotional costs that often go unseen in the pursuit of success under the bright lights of Hollywood.
