We’ve reached the end of another week. But before we clock out for the weekend, we’re giving props where they’re due. Here’s to our winners of the week.
Sydney Sweeney is a bombshell whose looks are a huge part of her persona and career. She is, to quote Mean Girls, “a regulation hottie,” and certainly a member of Nicola Coughlan’s perfect breasts club.
Since breaking through, Sweeney has played into and played up this aspect of herself while simultaneously steering and critiquing the public’s reaction to her figure, which are not mutually exclusive positions—in fact, they reinforce one another.
Her body became a topic of conversation again this week because of invasive photos taken not at a public beach or press event but of her at her home, which is private property. People thought they had the right to comment on how she looked, off duty, hanging out with a friend.
In response to the brouhaha, Sweeney recontextualized her body as what it is, for her: one of the tools in her arsenal as a performer. Not that it’s anyone’s business, but she’s been bulking up to play ’90s boxer Christy Martin in an upcoming biopic, and posted a montage of the cruel comments about her body that gave way to footage of her working out, showcasing not just her inner and physical strength but the hard work she’s put in for the role (a role that was, actually, spoiled by those dang paps).
Whatever anyone else thinks is the meaning of those photos, it’s Sweeney’s body, and she gets to choose the message. She chose “I’m a serious fucking actor.” Good for her.
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