Actress Sydney Sweeney has offered a raw and honest perspective on navigating the brutal realities of Hollywood, speaking openly about rejection just weeks after her latest film underperformed at the box office.
Advice Forged in the Fire of Rejection
The 28-year-old star, a veteran of the industry despite her age, shared her hard-earned wisdom during the New York City premiere of her upcoming thriller, The Housemaid. In an interview with People, Sweeney advised aspiring performers to ensure their passion runs deep.
"Honestly, do it as long as you love it," she stated. "You gotta love it a lot, because it's really hard, and you're going to be told 'no' more than you're gonna be told 'yes.'"
Sweeney emphasised the emotional toll, adding, "You have to deal with rejection, and it's a lot. So if you love it to your core, then none of that matters because you're getting to do what you love."
Box Office Setbacks and Personal Pride
Her words follow the commercial failure of the biopic Christy, in which she portrayed boxer Christy Martin. Released on November 7, the film was a significant financial disappointment. According to industry tracker The Wrap, it grossed a mere $1.3 million from 2,011 theatres, averaging a paltry $649 per venue.
Despite the lacklustre numbers, the Euphoria sensation took to social media to express profound pride in the project. "I am so deeply proud of this movie," she wrote. "Proud of the film David [Michôd] made. Proud of the story we told. Proud to represent someone as strong and resilient as Christy Martin."
Sweeney highlighted the film's greater purpose, stating it "stands for survival, courage, and hope" and that the team believed "Christy’s story could save lives" by raising awareness for domestic violence victims. She directly addressed the box office performance, arguing, "we don’t always just make art for numbers, we make it for impact."
Looking Ahead to 'The Housemaid'
This marks another box office stumble for Sweeney, following last year's poorly received superhero film Madam Web, which co-starred Dakota Johnson. That movie, made on a budget of $80 million, earned just $15.1 million in its opening weekend in February 2024.
All eyes are now on her next project, The Housemaid, which hits cinemas on December 19. In the film, Sweeney plays Millie, a live-in housemaid seeking a fresh start who finds herself in danger while working for a polished couple played by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar.
Director Paul Feig praised the onscreen chemistry between Sweeney and Seyfried, telling People it is "through the roof." He added, "They are both such powerful talents and work so well off each other that you very quickly get sucked into their onscreen world." The movie is based on Freida McFadden's 2022 novel of the same name.
