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Sydney Sweeneyisn’t afraid to flip the script.
In a new interview withThe Independent, the 24-year-old, who stars as Cassie Howard inEuphoria, revealed she asked producers to cut some of her character’s nude scenes, which she says director Sam Levinson has supported.
According to the actress, in the latest season of the HBO hit, “there are moments where Cassie was supposed to be shirtless and I would tell Sam, ‘I don’t really think that’s necessary here.’ He was like, ‘OK, we don’t need it.’ "
“I’ve never felt like Sam has pushed it on me or was trying to get a nude scene into an HBO show. When I didn’t want to do it, he didn’t make me,” she added.
WhileEuphoriahas an intimacy coordinator and Sweeney said she’s always felt comfortable on set, she acknowledged that not every environment she’s worked in has felt so secure.
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“I didn’t feel comfortable with my cast mate or the crew, and I just didn’t feel like my character would be doing it,” she said of the situation. “That made me even more self-conscious. I didn’t feel like I was able to speak up.”
Also in her interview, Sweeney talked the frustration she’s felt over being praised for some of her projects over others. The actress starred as Olivia Mossbacher inThe White Lotusand Eden inThe Handmaid’s Tale.
“WithThe White Lotus, I felt like people were finally recognizing the hard work I’ve been doing. This is something that has bothered me for a while,” Sweeney said. “I’m very proud of my work inEuphoria. I thought it was a great performance. But no one talks about it because I got naked. I doThe White Lotusand all of a sudden critics are paying attention. I was like, ‘Did you not see that inEuphoria? Did you not see that inThe Handmaid’s Tale?’ "
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On a larger level, Sweeney suspects there’s “a stigma against actresses who get naked on screen”.
“When a guy has a sex scene or shows his body, he still wins awards and gets praise. But the moment a girl does it, it’s completely different,” she said.
New episodes ofEuphoriaair Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.
source: people.com
