Euphoriais not one to shy away from mature themes, and some argue that the explicit nature of the show is essential to drive home the story’s message. Now, Sydney Sweeney, the actor who portrays Cassie Howard, has shared her thoughts about this, particularly in regard to her own nude scenes.
Euphoriahas captivated both critics and audiences for its avant-garde (and often risqué) depiction of the American high school experience. Now well into its second season,Euphoriacontinues to push the limitsof what can be shown on television, with even more graphic scenes of drug use, violence, and sex.
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In an interview with The Independent, Sweeney said that she thinks her nude scenes inEuphoriaovershadow the “great performance” she put on in the show. Despite being proud of her work, she feels that she does not get the credit she deserves because people are focusing on the wrong thing. In contrast toEuphoria, she said that her performance inThe White Lotus,another HBO series, garnered her more recognition for her hard work since people weren’t so hyper-focused on her nakedness.
Sweeney also referenced herappearance inThe Handmaid’s Taleduring the interview, saying that she had done intimate scenes in that project as well, but they were shot in a way that didn’t overshadow her acting. Her struggles with the public perception of her work demonstrate the stigma that exists against actresses who get naked on screen. Sweeney argued that when a guy has a sex scene or shows his body, that actor will still win awards and get praise. However, the moment a girl does the same, the reception is completely different.
Overall, Sweeney still says sheloved her time onEuphoriaand that it was still nothing compared to the terrible experiences she’s had on other projects. She said that she’s had worse moments on other shows where she just wanted to go home and scrub herself completely raw because she felt disgusting after filming. While she didn’t mention which projects those were, she did say that she felt uncomfortable with her castmates and the crew, and that she didn’t think her character would have agreed to do what she was instructed to portray.
Euphoriaincludes both male and female nudity, though in some cases, prosthetics are used in scenes involving the male actors (such as during Eric Dane and Hunter Schafer’s unsettling sex scene in the first season). The female actors, on the other hand, do not have such an option.
