If the Internet doesn’t break from the Stranger Things finale theories, then this one is sure to do it. To address all of the rumors that she has had cosmetic surgery, Sydney Sweeney appears in her most revealing photo shoot to date on the cover of W Magazine’s Annual Best Performances Issue. Released January 6, the piece celebrates her recent film work and addresses the ongoing speculation.
The 28-year-old actress marks the release of The Housemaid and the biopic Christy Martin with a minimalist cover image in which she poses nude, wearing only a Chopard Haute Joaillerie necklace. The styling references classic Hollywood glamour, with Sweeney’s blonde bob set in vintage pin-up curls reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe.
In her interview with W Magazine, Sweeney discussed the emotional demands of portraying boxer Christy Martin and her approach to separating herself from her roles once filming ends. “I’ve always trained myself to separate as much as I can from my characters and not to put my own thoughts or memories into a scene,” she said. “When they call ‘Cut,’ I’m able to just jump out of it and be back to Syd.”
Sweeney acknowledged that the physical and psychological transformation required for the role made that separation more difficult at times, though she said she made a conscious effort not to carry the character’s trauma into her personal life.
The cover arrives months after Sweeney publicly addressed rumors that she had undergone cosmetic procedures. In a December interview with Allure, she denied the speculation, citing a fear of needles and criticizing comparisons between childhood photos and recent red carpet appearances. “You cannot compare a photo of me from when I was 12 to a photo of me at 26 with professional makeup and lighting,” she said.
Sweeney later reiterated that point during a Vanity Fair lie detector segment with co-star Amanda Seyfried, confirming she has not had cosmetic enhancements.
The W Magazine feature positions Sweeney at a career moment defined by both transformation and control, pairing provocative imagery with candid reflection on fame, performance, and public scrutiny.
REELated:
Evangeline Lilly has brain damage
