Sydney Sweeney Bio
Sydney Bernice Sweeney (born September 12, 1997) is an American actress known for her compelling performances in both television and film. She gained early recognition for her roles in the Netflix series Everything Sucks!, the HBO miniseries The Handmaid’s Tale, and the psychological thriller Sharp Objects, all in 2018. Sweeney received wider acclaim for her performances in the drama series Euphoria (2019–present) and the first season of the anthology series The White Lotus (2021), both of which earned her nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards. In film, she appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) and later starred in the drama Reality and the romantic comedy Anyone but You, both released in 2023.
Early Life and Background
Sydney Bernice Sweeney was born on September 12, 1997, in Spokane, Washington. She was raised in a rural lakeside home in the Idaho panhandle, a place her family has inhabited for five generations. Her mother is a former criminal defense lawyer, and her father works in the hospitality industry. Sweeney has one brother and has mentioned that her family is religious. She attended Saint George’s School in Spokane, where she was active in various sports, including soccer, baseball, and snow slalom skiing. Sweeney also participated in combat sports, including taekwondo and kickboxing, which she began at age five to help manage her hyperactivity. Sweeney’s interest in acting sparked when she auditioned to be an extra in an independent film shooting in Spokane. To persuade her parents to support her acting ambitions, she presented them with a five-year business plan. This led her to audition for commercial acting jobs in Seattle and Portland before moving to Los Angeles at age 13. In high school, she was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Brighton Hall School in Burbank, California.
Path to Hollywood
Sydney Sweeney began her acting career in 2009 with a minor role in the television series Heroes. Her first film role came in 2010 with the horror comedy ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction. She played supporting roles in several television shows, including 90210, Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, and Pretty Little Liars. In 2018, Sweeney starred as Emaline Addario in the Netflix series Everything Sucks!, which follows two groups of high school students in Oregon during the 1990s. She also had a recurring role in the HBO miniseries Sharp Objects, where she portrayed Alice, a character who originally had a smaller role but was expanded due to Sweeney’s compelling performance. For this role, she researched stories of girls experiencing mental illness and self-harm, visiting hospitals to gain insight into her character. In addition, Sweeney had roles in the films Under the Silver Lake and the horror film Along Came the Devil.
Sydney Sweeney Career
Early Career (2009–2019)
As a child actress, Sydney Sweeney debuted on television in 2009 with a bit part in 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. In 2018, she starred as Emaline Addario in the Netflix series Everything Sucks!, which revolved around two groups of high school students in Oregon in 1996. She appeared in the HBO miniseries Sharp Objects, recurring as Alice, a roommate whom Amy Adams’s character meets at a psychiatric facility. Her character originally had a smaller role, but the director kept bringing her in for more scenes. 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–present)
In June 2019, Sydney Sweeney took on the role of Cassie Howard, a teenager with a reputation for promiscuity, in the HBO drama series Euphoria. The show became a breakout hit, becoming the second most-watched HBO series. Her performance was praised, earning a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2022. Sweeney’s portrayal generated discussions about nudity in film and the male gaze, and she has stated that she does not consider on-screen nudity to be a boundary. In 2020, Sweeney founded the production company Fifty-Fifty Films. The same year, she starred in the television film Nocturne and appeared in a live-action advertisement for Webtoon’s comic Lore Olympus. In 2021, Sweeney appeared in the first season of Mike White’s anthology series The White Lotus as a sardonic college sophomore, earning another Primetime Emmy nomination for her performance. In 2023, Sweeney starred as U.S. Air Force veteran Reality Winner in the thriller drama Reality, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. She also appeared in the crime thriller Americana and starred alongside Glen Powell in the romantic comedy Anyone but You, which became a commercial sleeper hit. In 2024, Sweeney had a supporting role in the superhero film Madame Web and produced and starred in the psychological horror film Immaculate.
Notable Works and Milestones
Sydney Sweeney’s signature works include her performances in Euphoria and The White Lotus, both of which earned her critical acclaim and Emmy nominations. Her role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood further solidified her position in the film industry.
Sydney Sweeney Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Sydney Sweeney has received several nominations for her performances, particularly for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, both of which earned her Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Sydney Sweeney Awards Won
Sydney Sweeney has not yet won any major awards but has been recognized for her performances with nominations, including those for the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Sydney Sweeney Family
Sydney Sweeney started dating businessman Jonathan Davino in 2018, and they became engaged in 2022. They produced films together, including Anyone but You and Immaculate.
Personal Life
Sweeney is an automobile enthusiast, having restored several classic cars. In 2021, she purchased a Tudor-style home in Los Angeles for $3 million and has since acquired additional properties, including a mansion in Bel Air. Sweeney’s personal life has garnered media attention, particularly regarding her engagement and her passion for cars.
