‘Euphoria’ star Sydney Sweeney shares her rom-com, fashion essentials

In USA TODAY’s The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it’s at home, on the set or on the road.
Sydney Sweeney is keeping things chill.
The Emmy-nominated star of “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus” has made a name for herself in prestige television, on silver screens in horror flicks or romantic comedies and as a fashion darling on red carpets like the Met Gala. But you might be more likely to find the 27-year-old in a white T-shirt and overalls, wiping grease off her hands after fixing up a classic car.
“There’s so much you could talk about for any specific car; I’m a huge fan. I’m always wearing overalls, kind of my thing,” says Sweeney, her voice lighting up at the topic in North Carolina, where she’s filming a biopic on boxer Christy Martin (“a really, really amazing experience”).
Sweeney spills on the music she’s listening to right now, the jeans she always buys and the rom-com that inspired her 2023 hit “Anyone But You.”
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Taylor Swift has her Eras tour, and Sweeney has her own acting eras categorized by playlist.
“For all my different characters, I create playlists. So each project I’m on, the music will always be different,” she says.
“When I start to work on a project, I kind of stop listening to everything else, but I’ve definitely been loving Tate (McRae) and loving Chappell Roan, and I’ve always been a huge fan of Billie (Eilish). If you can see my Instagram, I always use Lana Del Rey songs on all of my Reels. So I’m a huge Lana girl.”
Sweeney also settles the debate on which music streaming service is superior: “I am a Spotify girl.”
Regardless of filming location or trailer setup, Sweeney wants to make her experience comfortable.
“On set for me, I always make sure that my trailer kind of has … my main pieces. I’ve got my refrigerator stocked with Bai, my favorite flavors,” says Sweeney, who’s partnered with the beverage brand for its WonderWater drink (she loves the “pilavo pineapple mango and then, of course, my flavor, the raspberry lemon lime”).
“I always have an ice roller for my face if I need to depuff my face. I have a little speaker,” she says. “I like fuzzy blankets and pillows, so I usually have blankets and pillows and string lights.”
But the actress likes to distance work from her home life.
“I try to separate myself from my characters as much as possible. So I don’t bring my characters home with me. I think it’s a really healthy way to try and do the process. So I kind of want to go home. I got my dog, Tank. We hang out, we have some food, maybe watch some TV and learn my lines for the next day.”
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While her romantic comedy alongside Glen Powell, “Anyone But You,” reinvigorated the genre, Sweeney always returns to the queen of the rom-com for her favorite film.
“Definitely ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding.’ I love Julia Roberts, and it was amazing. Also, Cameron Diaz’s character was hilarious. So I think that’s probably one of my favorites,” Sweeney says.
The iconic 1997 film also inspired casting for “Anyone” as “Wedding” star Dermot Mulroney returned to the genre in a new light.
“When we were casting for my dad (in ‘Anyone But You’), I kept saying, ‘Oh my gosh, what about Dermot? Like, this could be amazing.’ And I was over-the-moon excited when Dermot came on board.”
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When it’s time to cozy up on the couch and watch a staple show, Sweeney is forever locked in with dedicated detectives of the Special Victims Unit.
“I have seen every single episode multiple times,” she confesses of NBC’s long-running police procedural “Law and Order: SVU.” She especially loves Seasons 8-10, “when they have the most iconic cast. And I think those are probably some of the best seasons, but I still love the recent ones, too.”
And much like Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson, Sweeney has her eyes on Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). “I’ve always loved Stabler, and I’ve watched the spinoff show as well,” she says, referring to the Stabler-focused “Law & Order: Organized Crime.”
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Sweeney has cemented herself as an It Girl in the fashion realm, landing campaigns with Miu Miu, Tory Burch and others while frequently popping up on best-dressed lists. In her everyday life, though, she’s often returning to a classic clothing combo.
“I’m very much a white, plain T-shirt kind of girl. I jump around from a bunch of different brands and that kind of depends on what vibe I want to go for,” she says. “I have my Levi’s white T-shirts and my Cotton On white T-shirts that are just paired with casual jeans. Jean wise: I mean, I love Levi’s, Frame, Agolde.”
As she’s prepped to play Martin in the upcoming biopic, her wardrobe has changed a bit.
“Since June, I’ve been living in workout clothes for prepping for my film. I basically don’t remember anything else anymore.