Sydney Sweeney hit back at criticism around her NSFW scenes in 'Euphoria' and other projects.
Euphoria Season 3's highly anticipated finale dropped on May 31 2026, following which, its lead stars, Sydney Sweeney (playing 'Cassie'), Jacob Elordi (playing 'Nate'), and Zendaya (playing 'Rue') are once again in focus. The show has been leading fan discussion forums due to its controversial storyline, particularly 'Cassie's' OnlyFans puppy roleplay and her NSFW scenes, including one in which she cosplays as a baby in a diaper. Amid the backlash surrounding her role, the defence of her on-screen nudity and comparison of fan reactions to male vs female actors have come under focus.
Sydney Sweeney has opened up multiple times about the audience's reaction to her racy role in Euphoria. She expressed frustration with how audiences blend her personal identity with the roles she plays, specifically her portrayal of 'Cassie Howard' in Euphoria. During a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Sydney shared the feeling that her on-screen nudity led to her being reduced to a "sex symbol", which overshadows her performance as an actor. During an interview with Cosmopolitan, she pointed out the double standards in audience reaction to male vs female 18+ scenes. Regarding that, she was quoted as saying:
"There are hour-long compilations of world-famous male actors with nude scenes who win Oscars and get praised for that work. But the moment a woman does it, it degrades them. 'They're not actresses, they just take off their tops so they can get a role.' There's such a double standard and I really hope that I can have a part in changing that."
Sydney Sweeney initially didn't know how to deal with the intense scrutiny regarding her nude roles. The 28-year-old "researched celebrities who have done nude scenes" to feel like she wasn't in this alone. The Christy star, however, has come a long way and evolved as a confident actor after filming multiple NSFW scenes. Now, her target is to keep delivering such performances to help normalise female stars going topless for specific roles.
"I don't think as many people took me seriously in Euphoria because I took my shirt off. When I saw The Voyeurs for the first time, I wondered if I'd done too much. I researched celebrities who have done nude scenes, trying to make myself feel better."
Regarding her role in Euphoria, she stated that the audience needs to learn to separate the character 'Cassie' from the person playing her. Notably, even after receiving backlash for her on-screen nudity, Sydney shared her decision to keep taking up such racy roles to change people's mindset regarding female stars. She mentioned she wouldn't ever be able to completely move past the hate she received for her role in Euphoria; however, she was open to a conversation about it. She was quoted by The Hollywood Reporter as saying:
"People forget that I'm playing a character, they think, 'Oh, she gets naked on-screen, she's a sex symbol. And I can't get past that. I have no problems with those scenes, and I won't stop doing them, but I wish there was an easier way to have an open conversation about what we're assuming about actors in the industry."
As per Sydney Sweeney, 'Cassie's' body is "a form of communication for her" and her risqué side is necessary for her authentic portrayal on screen. Through the nude scenes, Sydney felt she could showcase the character's life and what she was going through. She further stated that she is completely "disconnected" from the role in real life and didn't think much about the bold scenes. She candidly said, "When I get tagged in Cassie's… nudes, it feels like me looking at their nudes, not Sydney's nudes."
What are your thoughts on Sydney Sweeney's comments regarding her on-screen nudity? Let us know.
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