Sam Levinson praises Sydney Sweeney’s emotional range

Euphoria creator Sam Levinson has offered fresh insight into working with Sydney Sweeney, praising her ability to elevate performances under pressure while addressing ongoing speculation surrounding her dynamic with co-star Zendaya.

Speaking at Directors in Focus hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, Levinson revealed that Sweeney, who plays Cassie Howard in the hit HBO series, thrives when pushed beyond her comfort zone on set.

“What’s interesting is if you push it a little bit, she becomes brilliant,” Levinson said, explaining how additional takes often unlock deeper emotional and comedic layers in her performance. 

He noted that Sweeney has a unique ability to balance “honest” emotion with moments of chaos, anchoring scenes with intensity and humor.

The director also highlighted Zendaya’s performance as Rue, particularly praising her physicality in a high-energy sequence involving a dramatic escape. 

Levinson credited her background for bringing a distinct sense of movement and storytelling, describing the scene as a blend of silent-era comedy inspiration and modern-day grit.

“I imagined it as a mix of Buster Keaton set in this modern drug world,” he added, underscoring the show’s evolving stylistic ambition in its latest season.

The remarks come amid fan speculation about a possible rift between Sweeney and Zendaya, fueled by their absence together during recent promotional appearances for the show’s third season. 

However, co-star Jessica Blair Herman dismissed the rumors, insisting there is “no drama” among the cast.

In a recent interview on Good Day New York, Herman emphasized the professionalism on set, explaining that the two actresses rarely film together due to their separate storylines.

“They’ve created this beautiful working relationship,” she said, adding that differing schedules and narrative arcs naturally keep them apart during production.