Sydney Sweeney is not falling for Hollywood’s image, especially the one about women’s empowerment. The Euphoria actress has recently said some interesting takes about Hollywood in an interview. She even called the Hollywood culture and sentiments fake or an illusion.
In her interview with Vanity Fair and the magazine’s 2025 issue, the actress revealed her thoughts about the matter.
“This entire industry, all people say is ‘Women empowering other women.’ None of it’s happening. All of it is fake and a front for all the other s – – t that they say behind everyone’s back,” says Sweeney.
This was a response to a question regarding Carol Baum, a female producer who criticized Syndey Sweeney as lacking in looks, talent, and acting skills. Sydney Sweeney’s team notably fought back against this harsh criticism back in April 2024.
Carol Baum dropped her scathing opinion about Sydney Sweeney after watching her 2023 romantic comedy film, Anyone But You. Baum even called Sweeney’s film “unwatchable” after seeing it on a plane.
Baum also didn’t stop there and she even continued to berate Sydney Sweeney to her USC students. That said, nobody in the class had an answer for the confounded producer as to why they considered the actress ‘hot’. Baum did regret her remarks later on after attracting backlash.
Sydney Sweeney’s Just Trying Her Best
Still, Sydney Sweeney was already disheartened at the idea of women tearing down other women in Hollywood. That’s one of the reasons why she thinks of Hollywood’s ‘women empowerment’ slogans and sentiments as pure illusion. The 27-year-old actress states that she’s just trying her best and that attacks against her are not warranted.
“I mean, there’s so many studies and different opinions on the reasoning behind it. I’ve read that our entire lives, we were raised—and it’s a generational problem—to believe only one woman can be at the top. There’s one woman who can get the man. There’s one woman who can be, I don’t know, anything. So then all the others feel like they have to fight each other or take that one woman down instead of being like, Let’s all lift each other up. I’m still trying to figure it out. I’m just trying my best over here. Why am I getting attacked?” Sweeney added further.
It’s worth noting that Sydney Sweeney was not the first actress in Hollywood to have experienced an attack from other women. It’s actually quite common, especially in career rivalries.
Similar claims have been made about Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway, both actresses who have received Academy Awards. Interestingly enough, both have also had a similar career trajectory to Sydney Sweeney.
Sydney Sweeney first became famous and a household name for her bold display of nudity in Euphoria as the troubled Cassie Howard. Because of that role, she was quickly stereotyped as a certain kind of actress. However, Sweeney turned this into her strength and even played in on the jokes, especially during her guest appearance on Saturday Night Live.
Speaking of which, fans will be seeing Euphoria soon as the HBO drama will resume production in January. Sydney Sweeney will be reprising her role as Cassie Howard.