Sydney Sweeneyis one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars, and consistently places herself at the forefront of pop culture discussion, which makes her the perfect choice for one upcoming role in particular. While she’s still early in her career, she’s already a superstar, due to her acting roles and commercial appeal.
She has been an active actor since the early 2010s and has starred in several prominent projects, such as Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood. She gained wider recognition thanks toroles in HBO’sEuphoriaand season 1 ofThe White Lotus. In the 2020s, she’s had starring roles in more high-profile films likeMadame WebandAnyone But You.
She recently starred in Apple’sEcho Valleyand hasseveral films left this year, includingEden,Christy, andThe Housemaid. Recently, Sweeney landed the role of Kim Novak in Colman Domingo’sScandalous, and it’s fitting that theImmaculateactor will play a Hollywood legend who had a similar rise to stardom early in their career.
Sydney Sweeney’s Career Is A Lot Like Kim Novak’s
Novak emerged as a Hollywood star during the 1950s. At 22 years old, she starred in 1955’sPicnicandThe Man with the Golden Arm. In 1958, she starred alongside James Stewart inAlfred Hitchcock’sVertigo, a film often considered one of the greatest ever made. She was a prominent sex symbol of the 1950s and 1960s and still receives praise for her performance in Hitchcock’s classic thriller.
Since Novak was a significant public figure, her personal life was often in the limelight, leading to the subject of Domingo’s film.Scandalousdetailsthe relationship between Novak and Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. Their relationship sparked controversy during the Civil Rights Movement, leading to conflicts with the mafia, studio heads, and even Frank Sinatra.
Kim Novak will be the recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival later this year
Sweeney will play Novak alongside David Jonsson’s Davis Jr. in the new film, and it’s notable how similar theEuphoriastar’s rise to fame is to Novak’s. They both started their careers young androse to fame thanks to their talent as performers and the attention driven by their beauty. This helped them achieve box office stardom in their 20s, become sought after by studios for more work, and by companies for endorsements.
The Novak role itself also comes at an interesting time for Sweeney’s career. Domingo’s directorial debut details a scandal in Novak’s career, where divisive politics played a role in the public’s perception of her relationship with Davis Jr. That is not completely unfamiliar water for Sweeney, who currently finds herself amid anAmerican Eagle jeans ad campaignthat has sparked online debate.
This makesSydney Sweeney’s role inScandalousall the more intriguing. The real-life similarities between her and Novak could allow the film star to bring some of her own experiences into her performance. She could transform into an even more believable portrayal of theVertigostar now. Colman Domingo couldn’t have cast a better actress for this part, it seems.
