'Catty' Fans Weigh In On Sydney Sweeney Ditching Blonde Bombshell Look
The "Euphoria" star unveiled a dramatic transformation in the first trailer for Ron Howard's $50 million survival thriller "Eden," which debuted Wednesday.
Sydney Sweeney takes on the real-life role of Margret Wittmer, a young pregnant German settler who moved to Floreana Island in the Galápagos archipelago in 1932 with her husband, Heinz (Daniel Brühl), and stepson, Harry (Jonathan Tittel).
Fans are used to seeing Sweeney in high-fashion editorials and red carpet glam, but in "Eden," she's nearly unrecognizable, stripped of makeup, dressed in worn, era-appropriate clothes, and portraying a woman battling nature, isolation, and human conflict.
The film follows Margret's harrowing journey as she gives birth in the wild, fends off feral animals, and fights to protect her family on the remote island, all while the tight-knit community begins to fracture under growing tension and paranoia.
But while Sweeney has been lauded by many for taking on a complex, unglamorous role, the announcement has also reignited a wave of harsh online commentary, some of it deeply personal.
"Sure, she has a nice chest, but do you guys really find her THAT attractive? She's a 6 at best," one user wrote. Another commented, "Make your money while you can. Those looks are gonna fade, and you don't have the acting ability to make it without them."
Others claimed her casting was purely aesthetic, "A Ron Howard big-budget film? I get that Sydney is extremely easy on the eyes, but her acting skills are middling at best. I wonder if her being cast was RH's idea or used to secure financing for the project."
Some critiques were even more blunt and objectifying, reducing her to 'just boobs' or suggesting she's only effective 'with serious makeup.'
But fans and peers have rushed to her defense. 'Wow, you are so catty. Sydney is beautiful no matter what her hair color is,' one supporter wrote.
Another added, 'Talented and pretty young woman!'
Some pointed to her willingness to challenge herself with bold roles and move beyond surface-level characters. 'She's proving she's more than just a pretty face, this role shows real range.'
And Sweeney herself? She's not concerned with proving anything. Speaking at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, she gushed about the opportunity to work with legendary director Ron Howard.
'It's every actor's dream to work with Ron. I grew up loving your films, but being able to work with you, I've just learned what an amazing human being you are,' she said during a Q&A. 'When Margret came to me, I was absolutely amazed. She had no idea what she was getting herself into — she was a child at that! It was just such a crazy character journey, and I absolutely wanted to dive into it.'
The real Margret Wittmer would go on to raise her family on Floreana Island and later document her experience in the 1959 book "Floreana: A Woman's Pilgrimage to the Galápagos." She passed away in 2000 at age 95, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and survival qualities that Sweeney brings to life in "Eden."
This isn't the first time Sweeney has shaken up her signature style for a role.
While filming the upcoming biopic about legendary boxer Christy Martin, Sweeney ditched her iconic blonde locks for a deep, rich brunette shade, styled with curls, a major departure from her usual Hollywood look. The change didn't go unnoticed. After paparazzi snapped photos of her on set last week, Sweeney decided to share a behind-the-scenes peek herself.
'Well, the cat's out of the bag thanks to some paps in bushes,' she joked in her Instagram caption. 'So here's a little BTS from my film I'm working on right now.'
In the post, Sweeney is seen sporting gray sweatpants and a red tank top, flexing her toned arms and showing off the results of months of intense physical training for the role. 'Over the past few months, I've been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman, a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring,' she wrote.
'Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I'm honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. More to come soon,' Sweeney added.
The post quickly went viral, with fans stunned by her physical transformation and commitment to the role. 'This transformation truly threw me off,' one follower commented. Another simply wrote, 'Wow!!' while one fan dubbed her 'Jacked Sweeney.'
With her dedication to both physical and emotional transformation, Sweeney is proving she's more than ready to take on Hollywood's toughest roles.
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Tania Fabo, MSc is an MD-PhD candidate in genetics at Stanford University, a Rhodes scholar, a Knight-Hennessy scholar, a Paul and Daisy Soros fellow, and a Public Voices fellow of The OpEd Project. Her PhD research focuses on the interaction between genetics and diet in colorectal cancer risk. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
