Sydney Sweeney has once again demonstrated her star power, igniting widespread conversation with one of her most fearless fashion moments to date. The 28-year-old actor posed completely nude for W Magazine’s Annual Best Performances Issue, released on January 6, celebrating her recent and highly anticipated film projects The Housemaid and Christy Martin. The striking cover images quickly went viral, cementing the shoot as one of the boldest and most talked-about moments of her career.
For the cover artwork, Sweeney embraced minimalism at its most dramatic, opting to forgo clothing entirely and accessorizing only with a dazzling Chopard Haute Joaillerie necklace. Her sleek blonde bob, styled into soft vintage pin-up curls, instantly drew comparisons to Marilyn Monroe, reinforcing a strong Old Hollywood influence. The hairstyle was first unveiled at the AFI Fest screening of Christy in Los Angeles last October and has since become a defining element of her current style era.
The W Magazine shoot feels like a carefully curated homage to classic cinema, aligning seamlessly with Sweeney’s recent red-carpet choices. At The Housemaid premiere in December, she turned heads in a flowing white Galia Lahav gown featuring a billowing skirt inspired by Monroe’s iconic The Seven Year Itch moment. Together, these fashion statements showcase Sweeney’s growing confidence in blending modern boldness with the timeless glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Beyond the eye-catching visuals, Sweeney also used the platform to speak candidly about her craft. In her interview with W Magazine, the Emmy-nominated actor reflected on how she approaches emotionally intense roles, particularly her portrayal of legendary boxer Christy Martin in the upcoming biopic.
“I’ve always trained myself to separate as much as I can from my characters,” Sweeney explained. “It allows me to know that the character is experiencing those moments—not me. When they call ‘Cut,’ I can just jump back into being Syd.”
However, she admitted that stepping into Christy Martin’s world made that separation more difficult than usual. The physical and emotional transformation required for the role lingered longer than expected. “It felt like I was still coming home as Christy,” she shared, adding that she made a conscious effort not to carry the character’s trauma into her personal life.
Months before the nude cover sparked headlines, Sweeney also addressed ongoing plastic surgery rumors. In a December interview with Allure, she firmly denied the speculation, saying she has never undergone cosmetic procedures. “I am so scared of needles,” she stated plainly.
With daring creative choices and increasingly layered performances, Sydney Sweeney continues to redefine her public image—boldly, unapologetically, and entirely on her own terms.