Sydney Sweeney says she wants to make films that “save people’s lives”

Sydney Sweeney has spoken about her desire to take on roles that have real-world impact, saying she wants to make films that “impact and hopefully save people’s lives.” The 28-year-old actor told the BBC that she is drawn to stories that tackle serious issues, particularly domestic violence, which she describes as “prevalent.” She added that she takes “a lot of care” when choosing and playing roles that explore such themes.

This year, Sweeney has appeared in psychological thriller The Housemaid and the boxing biopic Christy, both of which deal with domestic abuse. She believes it is important for films with wide commercial reach to address difficult subjects. “Being able to have a film that’s on a more commercial level talk about a very difficult topic is important,” she said.

Sweeney currently stars as Millie Calloway in The Housemaid, adapted from Freida McFadden’s 2022 bestselling novel. The book became an international hit and developed a strong following on TikTok, particularly among the online reading community.

Sweeney said she was immediately drawn to the project. “I’m a huge fan of the book,” she said. “I loved all the characters. I love complex, juicy, crazy, twisted stories. This is a dream project.”

The film also stars Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar as Nina and Andrew Winchester, the wealthy couple who employ Millie. Seyfried and Sweeney were cast partly due to their physical similarities, but Seyfried said the connection runs deeper. “There’s a similarity between us that is uncanny,” she told the BBC, adding that they share similar values about work and life.

Sweeney echoed that sentiment, saying the pair developed a strong on-set dynamic that allowed them to push their performances further. Their relationship meant they could “go to these crazy places and discover so much more within your character,” she said.

The topic of domestic abuse in film has recently been under scrutiny in Hollywood, particularly following criticism of the 2024 film It Ends With Us. Sklenar, who appears in both that film and The Housemaid, said playing an abuser is challenging and emotionally taxing. He described his characters as “polar opposites” but admitted that such roles inevitably take a toll. “It’s intense and it’s ultimately going to affect you in certain ways,” he said.

The film has received largely positive reviews, including a four-star rating from The Guardian, which praised Feig and the cast for delivering the story with energy while still making it an effective holiday thriller. The response marks a positive moment for Sweeney after a turbulent year that included criticism of her American Eagle advertising campaign and questions about her box office track record.

Despite that scrutiny, The Housemaid opened strongly, earning $19 million in North America in its first weekend. The success comes as little surprise given the popularity of the source material, which has sold more than 1.6 million copies worldwide and spawned two sequels. That success has raised the possibility of further film adaptations.