Sydney Sweeney has shocked Euphoria viewers once again, but this time it’s not over her nude scenes.
The actress, 28, has earned praise for her acting skills after a preview of Sunday’s episode of the HBO Max show was released on Friday.
Although the scene features Sweeney’s signature cleavage on full display, it’s her ability to perform a monologue from William Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra that has blown fans away.
‘Hate her all you want but she’s carrying Season 3 on her back,’ commented one viewer.
‘I think she’s definitely a great actor! Glad we are seeing her in a different light,’ wrote another.
A third added, ‘Honestly speaking she’s winning an Emmy. Sydney is head and shoulders above everyone right now in season three. Absolutely SLAYING IT!’
Sydney Sweeney has stunned viewers after performing a Shakespeare monologue in an upcoming episode of Euphoria
The actress, 28, has earned praise for her acting skills after a preview of Sunday’s episode of the HBO Max show was released online on Friday
‘Unfortunately for us Sydney haters, she is carrying this show, OMG,’ wrote another.
Until now, Sweeney has been at the center of backlash from Euphoria viewers over her character Cassie’s nude scenes.
In the latest season, Cassie has turned to OnlyFans to make ends meet, and Euphoria director Sam Levinson certainly hasn’t shied away from showing the X-rated side of online sex work.
Some scenes have involved Sweeney dressing up in a number of disturbing outfits, including a diaper-wearing toddler and a pet dog.
Viewers were already taken aback by Cassie’s ‘puppy play’ exploits, which led to Levinson having to defend the scenes.
He told The Hollywood Reporter, ‘[Cassie] has got her dog house and her little dog ears and the nose, and that has its own humour, but what makes the scene is the fact that her housekeeper is the one filming it.
‘What we wanted to always find is the other layer of absurdity that we’re able to tie into it so that we’re not too inside of her fantasy or illusion – the gag is to jump out, to break the wall,’ he added.
Speaking about her character’s OnlyFans career at the season three premiere, Sweeney told Entertainment Tonight, ‘I mean, Cassie’s a crazy character.’
Sweeney has been at the center of backlash from Euphoria viewers over her character Cassie’s nude scenes
One disturbing scene saw Sweeney dressed up as a pet puppy, complete with a leash
Despite backlash, the latest season of Euphoria has delivered record-breaking ratings
She continued, ‘She will do anything and at all costs to be famous this season, and she makes a lot of very wild and interesting choices.’
Since premiering in 2019, the show has been famed for breaking boundaries with its graphic portrayal of teenage drug use, sex and violence.
But despite the scathing reviews and pearl-clutching reactions to the latest season of the controversial series, Euphoria is a bona fide ratings sensation.
According to Variety, the second episode of season three hit 8.5million viewers across HBO and HBO Max in its first three days in the US alone.
These are similar figures to the season premiere, proving that Euphoria has serious staying power.
Ratings have significantly eclipsed season two so far, with Euphoria even dethroning the blockbuster medical drama The Pitt at the top of HBO Max’s streaming chart.
