Sydney Sweeney has gone from supporting actress to Hollywood ‘It Girl’

Sidney Sweeney was the next big movie star.

The 27-year-old blonde bombshell achieved commercial success after starring in series such as Sharp Objects and The Handmaid’s Tale. However, Sweeney’s big break came after she was cast as Cassie in Euphoria and then Olivia in The White Lotus.

Supporting roles in some of HBO’s biggest hits led Sweeney to multimillion-dollar paydays in blockbuster roles as she transitioned from supporting star to Hollywood’s “It Girl.”

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“To her credit, of all the It girls who have had their 15 minutes of fame, only a few have used the platform to strengthen their fan base while working to diversify their portfolio, both vertically and horizontally,” Fox News said Digital branding expert Doug Eldridge. . “Sweeney understands how the scaffolding model works and uses it to great effect.”

“Sweeney also has a unique sense of intimacy. She attracts male viewers, but does not scare off female fans,” he added. “It’s a more delicate balance than you might imagine. Over the past 30 years, Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston have made their entire careers playing single roles (Pretty Woman and Friends, respectively). They may not cause any harm in the minds of female fans, but they don’t necessarily create the same fervor among male fans.”

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He continued: “In contrast, Angelina Jolie attracted a huge male audience, but was mostly criticized and rejected by female viewers. I draw this parallel to put Sweeney’s rise in context: she took a step-by-step approach, moving and balancing between her looks, her attractiveness and her raw theatrical flair. She becomes a Swiss Army knife, a versatile tool in Hollywood that doesn’t come around very often. a self-deprecation that appeals to both male and female fans, and is an increasingly rare trait these days.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Sweeney earned $2 million for her role in Anyone But You opposite Glen Powell. The film, which premiered in December 2023, earned $220 million at the box office against a budget of $25 million, the publication reported. Sweeney also reportedly earned $250,000 in executive producer fees.

Less than a year later, multiple sources told THR that Sweeney had signed a $7.5 million deal to star in The Maid opposite Amanda Seyfried.

According to the publication, Sweeney’s $5.5 million jump in potential earnings in less than a year is not common. Most stars receive higher salaries in the form of pre-agreed bonuses.

Sweeney’s rise to “It Girl” status in Hollywood was due to “strategic career planning,” Gary Frater, director of social media and celebrity branding for Kronus Communications, told Fox News Digital.

“By choosing varied and challenging roles early on, she gained credibility and a loyal following,” he said. “In addition to acting, she capitalized on her momentum by founding her own production company, Fifty-Fifty Films, which allowed her to take control of her career trajectory and explore behind-the-scenes opportunities. This strategic approach, coupled with brand partnerships and a strong social media presence, positions her as a Hollywood star and savvy entrepreneur.”

“Sydney’s journey illustrates the power of combining artistic talent and entrepreneurial vision to achieve sustainable success in the entertainment industry,” added Freiter.

One of the strategic moves Sweeney made was a supporting role in Madame Web, for which she was reportedly paid $750,000. The actress agreed to a role in a film about the Spider-Man universe for Sony Pictures to play in the film Anyone But You.

“She wanted them to know she’s a team player,” a source told THR.

Sweeney’s ability to show off her “versatility” has certainly helped the rising star, but according to Eldridge, it’s not her “biggest move.”

“Madame Web was a box office bomb, but for Sweeney it was another feather in his cap,” he said. “It’s not so much a case of ‘failure up’ as it is one of consistently broadening its base and demonstrating its versatility. On the contrary, she played to her home base in the rom-com Anyone But You and literally laughed all the way to The real significance of this collection is that it did not follow a brilliant marketing campaign, but was almost entirely self-funded. The fan support is a testament to both her fan base and her growing star power.”

“In a broader sense, I think the most significant step she’s taken has not been the roles she’s taken on, but the companies she’s built,” Eldridge added. “She started her own production company and is currently vetting incoming projects as well as developing her own content. This is important because it will determine the direction her career will take. But as I always tell clients, “Kites rise against the wind,” not with this one. I think Sweeney will likely heed this strategy and continue to selectively resist the winds of Hollywood. If she does it, the sky’s the limit.”

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Just a few years ago, the situation looked very different for Sweeney.

In 2022, Sweeney said she “can’t shut (her) mind up” and doesn’t sleep over fears of losing her relevance as a rising young star.

“If I wanted to take a six-month break, I wouldn’t have the income to cover it,” Sweeney told the Hollywood Reporter in a 2022 interview. “I don’t have anyone to support me, I don’t have anyone I can turn to to pay bills or call for help.”

“They don’t pay actors like they used to, and with streamers you don’t make a profit anymore,” Sweeney added. “The established stars still get paid, but I have to give 5% to my lawyer, 10% to my agents, 3% or something like that to my business manager. I have to pay my publicist every month and it’s more than my salary.” mortgage.”

Part of Sweeney’s success as a “motivated professional” comes from her understanding of an actor’s financial responsibilities, according to marketing expert Katie Fielder.

“She’s a star who knows how to work hard and get results,” she told Fox News Digital. “She is making progress in her industry, so kudos to her for her continued success.”

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Sweeney has spoken candidly about her childhood and has previously explained the financial hardships her family had to go through so she could begin her acting career at age 13.

At one point, the family shared one hotel room.

“We shared a room,” she previously explained in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. “My mom and I shared a bed, and my dad and little brother shared a couch.”

Financial difficulties also took a toll on her parents’ marriage.

“I thought if I made enough money, I could buy my parents’ house and get my parents back together,” Sweeney said. “But when I turned 18, I only had $800 in my account. My parents were no longer together and there was nothing I could do to help.”

Original article source: Sydney Sweeney has gone from supporting actress to Hollywood “It Girl”