Sydney Sweeney has been leaving nothing to the imagination in recent episodes of Euphoria but the actress wants to be remembered for more than just taking her top off.
The 28-year-old has established herself as one of the biggest names in the business in recent years after playing Cassie on the hit HBO show, also starring in classic films such as Madame Web.
Although she’s faced some controversy in recent times, with The White Lotus co-star Aimee Lou Wood even calling her out over her response to the controversial American Eagle ad, Sweeney remains one of the most in-demand actresses of her generation.
Nevertheless, her work on Euphoria has resulted in constant criticism over Cassie’s nude scenes, and season three has met with a similar reaction.
If you thought that her costumes in the first episode of the new series caused a stir, as she was seen wearing baby-like clothes, then the latest release has only stepped things up a notch, as she did a full-frontal nude scene featuring ice cream, baseball and the American flag.
Sweeney gets intimate with her ice cream in the latest episode (HBO)
Anyway, despite the kickback to some of her scenes, Sweeney has been open about how playing Cassie has increased her own body confidence, while also pointing out the double standards when it comes to male actors’ nude scenes in Hollywood.
She told Grazia: “When I saw The Voyeurs [Sweeney’s 2021 film] 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.”
“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.”
Some of the scenes have been a little on the weirder side (HBO)
Sadly, Cassie’s career on OnlyFans in the latest season is only likely to increase these criticisms for Sweeney.
She added: “I don’t think as many people took me seriously in Euphoria because I took my shirt off.
“There’s such a double standard. I really hope I can have a little part in changing that.”
While her father and grandfather have since admitted that they have to leave the room when his daughter’s naked scenes come on, Sweeney says she’s ‘disconnected from it’, suggesting that it’s like watching someone else.
She concluded: “When I get tagged in Cassie’s or The Voyeurs’ Pippa’s nudes, it feels like me looking at their nudes, not Sydney’s nudes.”
“When you film one of these scenes, it is so technical and so not romantic,” she added. “There are people staring at you, there’s pads between you, there’s nipple covers and weird sticker thongs all up in your butt.”
Actors are bound to face comments from social media trolls, many of whom are just jealous of their situation, but it seems as if Sweeney has no plans to stop some of her more x-rated scenes.
Who plays Angel and Magick in Euphoria?
Aside from Cassie’s flourishing OnlyFans career, the latest episode of Euphoria also follows Rue’s (Zendaya) work at strip club the Silver Slipper, introducing some key new characters.
Be warned, spoilers for season three episode two follow.
Priscilla Delgado – Angel
Priscila Delgado as Angel in Euphoria (HBO)
Puerto Rican actress Delgado first auditioned for the role of Maddy when she was just 16, with the role ultimately going to Alexa Demie.
Since then, she’s appeared in films Julieta and Killer Book Club, and TV shows A League of Their Own and Just Before Christ.
This time around, she’s bagged the part of Angel in Euphoria, a stripper who forms a bond with Rue.
When Angel learns her missing friend Tish has actually died from an overdose, her mental health spirals, and Rue takes her to rehab.
But an ambulance races to the scene shortly afterwards, leading fans to worry if we’ll see her again.
Rosalía – Magick
Singer Rosalía plays Magick (HBO)
Rosalía is a Spanish singer-songwriter whose biggest hits include ‘DESPECHÁ’, ‘BESO’ and ‘La Perla’.
Euphoria is her acting debut, and her character Magick also works in the Silver Slipper.
She told Elle appearing on the show was a ‘very, very beautiful and an amazing learning experience’ in an interview with Elle, though she admitted to being ‘annoyed’ that her character is always wearing a crytal-embossed beck brace.