How Sydney Sweeney became one of the most talked-about stars of 2025

It seems Sydney Sweeney's name has been the one on everybody's lips in 2025. 

This year, the actress has made headlines for a controversial American Eagle ad, her fashion choices, her dating life – she's believed to be dating Scooter Braun – and even her hair (thanks to a major haircut, and then some hair extensions).

And let's not forget when she raised eyebrows by selling bars of soap made with her bathwater.

Watch the videos above.

She's consistently turned heads on the red carpet, perhaps most of all in October when she attended Variety's 2025 Power of Women event in Los Angeles in a jaw-dropping silver "naked" dress.

In November, she was photographed driving in a car with her ex-fiancé Jonathan Davino, reportedly sharing a tense exchange.

A source told TMZ she got out of the car near her home and was allegedly heard saying with a 'scream', "I don't believe you. Please leave, leave me alone."

READ MORE: From Jagger to Bowie: Stars with a surprising connection to Australia

READ MORE: Three years after shooting fame, Anastacia received a cancer diagnosis

READ MORE: The best celebrity Halloween costumes of 2025

She and American record executive Braun, 44, were also recently spotted by photographers, kissing as they sat on a rock in New York City's Central Park and all but confirming their relationship.

More recently in December, Sweeney made headlines for finally addressing the months of backlash against her American Eagle Jeans ad.

"I don't support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren't true," she told People.

"I'm against hate and divisiveness.

"In the past my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press but recently I have come to realise that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it."

Nine.com.au takes a look at how the American actress became one of the most talked-about stars of the year.

The rise of Sydney Sweeney

Sweeney is known for her work in critically acclaimed TV shows including The White Lotus, The Handmaid's Tale and Euphoria, but it was the latter that really put her on the map.

Soon the big screen came calling and she landed parts in films including Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, Anyone But You and Madame Web.

In the biopic Christy, released earlier this year, she transformed into American boxer Christy Martin, ditching her signature blonde hair for a short brown style. 

In an interview with GQ, Sweeney said she remains grounded despite her growing fame.

Asked, "Did your sense of your own fame change this year?" she replied, "No," crediting the people around her for this.

"They take me out of Hollywood, take me out of this bubble and remind me what the real world is and that that's where I exist," she added.

The actress recently set tongues wagging when she told Variety that rather than playing a Bond girl in the film franchise, she'd "have more fun as James Bond".

A headline-making love life

Sweeney was engaged to American producer Davino, 42, but they reportedly split in March 2025.

Earlier in the year, she was asked by The Times if she was still wedding planning, and simply replied, "No," before confirming she was single.

"I'm learning a lot about myself, spending more time with my friends. And I'm loving it."

In 2023, she starred alongside Glen Powell in the romantic comedy Anyone But You, which was filmed in Sydney, and fans – and the press – couldn't help but notice their on-screen chemistry.

During filming and promotion, rumours were rife about the exact status of their relationship, despite them having their own respective relationships at the time.

Sweeney was with Davino and Powell with Gigi Paris; both relationships have since ended, adding to speculation of a romance between the co-stars.

Earlier this year, Powell's mum cleared things up to The Daily Mail, saying: "They're definitely not together." 

She said Sweeney is actually good friends with Powell's sister Leslie.

Sweeney told The Times she and Powell "adore each other".

"It's always beautiful to see people fall in love with characters and be really supportive of stuff that they see on screen."

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Speaking to Variety previously, Sweeney said of the Powell rumours, "Honestly, the press did it themselves. There was no leaning in [to the rumours], per se."

"Truly the tabloids and journalists just created it and kept going. Even if we were just standing next to each other, it was 'They're standing two inches apart!'''

Now, she's been spotted on dates with Scooter Braun, who recently split from ex-wife Yael Cohen Braun. 

'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans'

Here comes the jeans drama.

The actress' ad for American Eagle jeans earlier this year caused such a reaction, even US President Donald Trump weighed in on the discourse.

The ad caused a stir and made international headlines due to the catchphrase "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans", with many believing the language promoted eugenics.

"Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye colour," the actress says in one of the clips.

"My jeans are blue."

Responding to the backlash, American Eagle said in a statement: "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans."

At the Toronto Film Festival in September, the acress told Vanity Fair she wouldn't be talking about the controversy or ad during her appearances at the event.

"I am there to support my movie and the people involved in making it, and I'm not there to talk about jeans," she insisted.

But she opened up a bit more and told GQ: "I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans."

The bathwater controversy

This was an interesting one.

Earlier this year, fans learned they could get their hands on a limited-edition soap that included Sweeney's bathwater, made by the brand Dr. Squatch.

The actress copped plenty of backlash for her involvement, with commentators saying the product reinforced a culture where women are sexualised and commodified.

Responding to this, Sweeney told The Wall Street Journal: "It was mainly the girls making comments about it, which I thought was really interesting."

She doubled down, adding: "They all loved the idea of Jacob Elordi's bathwater."

One thing is for sure, Sweeney has cemented herself as an A-lister and is fast becoming one of the biggest stars in Hollywood – and what she does next is anyone's guess.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.

from Celebrity entertainment news, gossip and photos on 9Honey Celebrity https://ift.tt/o10jiYS