During a recent discussion following a screening of the 1988 film “Dead Ringers,” top Hollywood producer Carol Baum made headlines with her candid remarks about Sydney Sweeney, a rising star in the industry.
Baum, renowned for her work on films like “Father of the Bride,” shared her honest thoughts about Sweeney’s appeal. She openly admitted her skepticism, stating, “I don’t quite understand Sydney Sweeney’s appeal.” Baum recounted a specific experience watching Sweeney’s film “Anyone But You” during a flight, describing it as “unwatchable” from her perspective.
As a veteran producer whose career spans decades, Baum’s curiosity about Sweeney’s popularity led her to question her students at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. She recalled asking, “Explain this girl to me. She’s not conventionally pretty, and I haven’t seen her showcase exceptional acting skills. Why is she considered such a hot commodity?”
Despite her reservations about Sweeney’s talent and aesthetics, Baum acknowledged the industry’s realities, noting that she would still consider casting Sweeney in a project if it guaranteed success. “When it comes down to getting a film greenlit, everyone wants to see it happen. Who would turn down that opportunity?” Baum reasoned.
Sweeney’s rise to fame was propelled by her notable roles in HBO’s “Euphoria” as Cassie Howard, which earned her an Emmy nomination in 2022, and her performance in “The White Lotus,” which also garnered critical acclaim and another Emmy nomination.
Although “Anyone But You,” one of Sweeney’s recent films, received mixed reviews, it performed well at the box office, surpassing $200 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing R-rated romantic comedy since “Bridget Jones’s Baby” in 2016, according to industry reports.
Before the film’s release, rumors circulated about a romantic involvement between Sweeney and her co-star Glen Powell, which Sweeney addressed during her hosting stint on “Saturday Night Live” in March, unequivocally denying any truth to those speculations.
