Sydney Sweeney can do it all. Best known for playing Cassie on Euphoria and Olivia on The White Lotus, the rising star is also a producer, entrepreneur, martial artist and car mechanic. And the real twist? She’s only just turned 24.

Sydney’s most recent role as Cassie on Euphoria propelled her further into the spotlight, with the show reaching great heights as HBO’s second-most-watched show since 2004. Euphoria-related content permeates every corner of the internet – from the 34 million tweets that ravaged Twitter to viral memes like Cassie’s meltdown scene where she sobs, “I’ve never, ever been happier”.

Watching Euphoria is a highly stressful experience. As Cassie navigates high school’s complex waters in her ruinous search for love, viewers are up in arms over her questionable choices. This is in part due to creator Sam Levinson’s clever script, but it is also largely due to Sydney Sweeney’s masterful control over a dynamic range of emotions. Her depiction has viewers toeing the line between pitying Cassie and wanting to shake her back to reality. The calculated subtlety and bold modulation in Sydney’s portrayal of Cassie is palpable – Cassie shifts from desperation and panic to manic calmness and indifference within a few short minutes. An entire episode would see her run through hundreds of different emotions. And what of Sydney’s own mental state? Well, those aren’t her emotions. “I separate myself from my characters as much as possible”, Sydney explains. “Their memories are not my own. Their favourite colour or music isn’t mine. That way I’m truly able to jump in and out.” 

Sydney’s intentional mental separation from each character she takes on is by no means due to a lack of commitment. She distances herself so as not to get lost in the roles she plays. To further delve into the core values that make up different characters, Sydney writes in-depth “character bibles” for each role she takes on, detailing events from the moment the character was born all the way to the point Sydney steps in. In an interview with Teen Vogue, she revealed that she goes so far as to create dedicated playlists for each character she plays. “Whenever I’m reading a script or I start building the character and working on backstory, I’m listening to the kind of music that I think she would listen to”, she explains.

When asked what she loves most about acting, Sydney’s answer was simple. “Connecting with others. Learning and experiencing different lives. The ability to make people feel things through my character”, she says. “I get to meet so many people that I would’ve never had the opportunity to meet.” Her experience on Euphoria was a clear example of that, while also providing a space for Sydney to develop and mature. “I’ve definitely grown as both an actor and an individual with Euphoria. I’ve learned and grown from my fellow cast and crew but also from the fans. We have such an incredible community that I’m honoured to work with, and I think that everyone’s hard work translates to what the fans see.”