Euphoria actor Sydney Sweeney was the youngest star who made Elle’s 2022 Women in Hollywood list, and opened up about her life long struggle to acquire girl friends in her acceptance speech.
“You are the sister I’ve always wanted,” Sweeney told her co-star Maude Apatow, who presented her with the award.
She added, “I am so lucky to be able to play a sister on Euphoria with you, and you’re my best friend. It’s such an amazing feeling because I always had a hard time having girl friends, and you’re just everything to me.”
During the speech, the 25-year-old went on to read a letter that she wrote to herself as a child.
“Dear Little Syd,” she began. “You would not believe what we are doing right now. So I need to thank you. Thank you for never giving up or accepting the answer no. You never let others discourage you from dreaming and believing in yourself. Even when it felt like no one believed in you. During this journey there’s three lessons I wish we would’ve learned earlier on, that I want to share with you now.”
She continued, “Lesson one: Never forget the importance of kindness and forgiveness — to yourself and others,” she said. “I know you were scared when you left your small town, because usually people don’t leave. Not everyone will understand where you are going, or where you came from. Some people may be unaccepting and at times cruel, and every step of the way they will try to make you fearful of your dreams. But turn that negativity and pain into motivation. Be kind to yourself as you grow and allow forgiveness as you fail.”
“Lesson two: Live in the now,” she added. “Mom always said to jump rope while you can, and we always thought it was because our boobs were going to get in the way, which they did, but it’s so much more than that. You love the chase, and you’re always looking towards the next thing, hungry for more. But slow down, and take it all in. Because you’ve worked so hard, and what’s the point if you don’t take those moments to enjoy the journey? I mean, this industry is nuts.
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“Lesson three: Fall in love with as many things as possible,” she continued. “Fall in love with art, music, travel, cars, sports, education, others, and yourself. Keep your heart open and curiosity alive. Always look for new possibilities to discover, don’t limit the bandwidth of love. And always share it. ‘Cause this world needs more love in it.”
Sweeney has opened up about her struggle to make friends in previous interviews, telling the audience during an acceptance speech at the MTV Awards in June that she was bullied when she was younger.
“I was getting horribly bullied in school because I mean, I had big boobs when I was little, and no one else really did,” she said.
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