How Sydney Sweeney is ‘Proving’ to Hollywood She’s ‘More Than Just a Pretty Face’

Sydney Sweeney was living her best life during a night out in New York City July 12. Partying with friends at celeb-friendly hot spot Ray’s Bar, the actress — who was in great spirits as she held court at a back booth — reportedly bought tequila shots for everyone in the crowd before leading a full-bar sing-along to Natasha Bedingfield’s track “Unwritten,” which was featured in the 27-year-old’s hit 2023 rom-com Anyone but You.

The fun excursion followed the actress’ surprise appearance at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s $50 million Italian wedding in late June, where the Euphoria star was spotted dancing the night away with pal Jessica Alba and NFL GOAT Tom Brady and getting flirty with Orlando Bloom.

Sydney has much to celebrate lately. The newly single star (she and former fiancé Jonathan Davino split in March) is currently starring in Apple TV+’s thriller Echo Valley and has two more high-profile projects coming up, including the Ron Howard – directed thriller Eden and a biopic about female boxer Christy Martin (which she also produced). And the Hollywood chatter is that she’s also a lock to be the next Bond Girl in the upcoming 007 film to be directed by Denis Villeneuve — an accomplishment that would solidify her status as the “it” girl of the 2020s.

In addition to her super successful acting career, she’s landed deals with Miu Miu and Guess, and is soon set to launch a new lingerie line. “Sydney is well on her way to creating her own empire,” a source tells Star. “She’s proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that she’s much more than just a pretty face.” (Fifty-Fifty Films, her production company, also put out the 2024 thriller Immaculate; the star, worth $40 million, has invested in real estate too.)

Huge Role

Sydney’s practically a shoo-in to play James Bond’s love interest in the next installment of the hit franchise. (Recent Bond Girls include Halle Berry and Michelle Yeoh.)

“She’s perfect for the role, everyone seems to agree,” says the source, adding, “She’s young and gorgeous and has that mysterious aura.”

Indeed, Sydney and Dune director Denis were spotted chatting at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, and the source says they’ve become good friends. “Word is he wants Sydney. Nothing is set in stone yet, but it’s got a lot of people excited.”

She’s got all the right connections. Amazon, which is owned by Bezos, recently bought the rights to the Bond films.

“A lot of people were wondering why Sydney was a guest at Jeff’s wedding, but it’s starting to make sense now,” explains the source. He and his new wife are also among the investors in her lingerie line. “The lingerie brand is something Sydney has been working on for a while,” the source adds.

Tough Past

Her ambitions are fueled by a childhood spent hustling. When she was 13, her parents moved the family from Washington state to Los Angeles so she could pursue her dream of acting. After losing their money and home, they lived in a Holiday Inn for eight months while Sydney auditioned for roles. “We were sharing a one-bedroom hotel room, no kitchen, no balcony,” she told The Sunday Times in May. “A pull-out sofabed, where my dad and brother slept, my mom and me in the bed.” She remained driven. “It was difficult,” says the source. “That’s why she works so hard now.”

Landing the role of Cassie in Euphoria was a game-changer (Season 3 of the HBO series is set to air in 2026); in 2022 she was nominated for two Emmys (one for Euphoria, a second for Season 1 of The White Lotus). She was an exec producer on Anyone but You, which raked in more than $220 million worldwide. “I have to prove myself as a young woman, as an actor, as a businessperson — all of it,” she told The Sunday Times. “I will always want to work harder.”

Despite her flirting at the Bezos bash, even romance has taken a back seat to Sydney’s professional desires. (“I’m loving it,” she told The Sunday Times of single life.) “Guys are coming at her but she’s not interested,” says the source. “Her career comes first. She’s striking while the iron is hot.”