Sydney Sweeney and Ethan Hawke Shine in Variety's Actors on Actors Conversation

Sydney Bernice Sweeney (born September 12, 1997, in Spokane, Washington) is an American actress and producer known for her versatile roles in television and film. She began her acting career with guest appearances on shows like *Pretty Little Liars* and *Criminal Minds*, but gained initial recognition in 2018 with her role as Emaline Addario in the Netflix series *Everything Sucks!* and as Eden Spencer in Hulu’s *The Handmaid’s Tale*. Sweeney's breakthrough came with the HBO drama series *Euphoria* (2019–present), where she portrays Cassie Howard, a complex teenager navigating toxic relationships and personal challenges. This role earned her widespread acclaim and a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2022 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She is confirmed to have filmed for *Euphoria*’s highly anticipated third season. In 2021, she starred as Olivia Mossbacher in HBO’s anthology series *The White Lotus*, a satirical drama set at a luxury Hawaiian resort. Her performance garnered another Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. In film, Sweeney appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* (2019). More recently, she had leading roles in *Reality* and *Anyone but You* (both 2023). In 2024, she starred as Julia Cornwall in the superhero film *Madame Web* and appeared in the horror film *Immaculate*. Sweeney moved to Los Angeles at age 13 to pursue acting and has been noted for her determination, including self-recording an audition tape for *Euphoria* despite initial discouragement. She continues to build a diverse career in both television and film, earning recognition for her nuanced performances and choice of challenging roles[1][2][5][6].

Ethan Hawke, born November 6, 1970, in Austin, Texas, is an American actor, director, screenwriter, novelist, and theater artist renowned for portraying introspective, emotionally complex characters over four decades.[1][4][5] Raised in New Jersey by his mother, a charity worker, and father, an insurance actuary, he began acting in high school, debuting in the 1985 sci-fi film *Explorers* before dropping out of Carnegie Mellon University for his breakthrough role as a student in *Dead Poets Society* (1989) opposite Robin Williams.[2][5][6][7] Hawke's film career blends indie and mainstream projects, including early roles in *White Fang* (1991), *Reality Bites* (1994), and *Gattaca* (1997).[3][5][6] He earned his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in *Training Day* (2001) alongside Denzel Washington.[2][3][4][5] Iconic collaborations with Richard Linklater feature in the *Before* trilogy (*Before Sunrise* [1995], *Before Sunset* [2004], *Before Midnight* [2013]), netting screenplay nods, and *Boyhood* (2014), which brought another supporting actor nomination plus Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG recognition.[1][2][3][4][6] Other notable films include *First Reformed* (2017), for which he won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead, *The Magnificent Seven* (2016), and *Born to Be Blue* (2016).[1][2][3][6] A theater pioneer, Hawke co-founded the Malaparte Theater Company in 1991 and earned a Tony nomination for Tom Stoppard's *The Coast of Utopia* (2006) on Broadway, plus Drama Desk and Obie honors.[1][3][4][5] He has directed films like *Chelsea Walls* (2001) and *Blaze* (2018), and novels including *The Hottest State* (1996) and *Ash Wednesday* (2002).[1][4][6] With four Oscar nominations total, Hawke remains active in film, TV (e.g., *The Last Movie Stars* documentary series), and stage, embodying a versatile, multi-hyphenate career.[1][2][3] (298 words)

Sam Levinson is an American filmmaker, writer, and producer best known as the creator and showrunner of HBO’s teen drama series Euphoria and for directing several feature films including Another Happy Day (2011), Assassination Nation (2018), and Malcolm & Marie (2021).1 Sam Levinson began his career with early acting appearances and his first writing credit on the film Operation: Endgame, and made his feature directorial debut with Another Happy Day, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and established his interest in intimate, often confrontational storytelling.1 Levinson created Euphoria, an adaptation of an Israeli series, for HBO; the show gained significant audience attention and critical recognition for its visual style, score, performances (notably Zendaya), and its frank depiction of adolescent issues, earning nominations and awards including Emmy recognition and directing honors.1,5 He wrote and directed Assassination Nation, which premiered at Sundance and showcased his stylized, provocative approach to social commentary.1 Levinson’s film Malcolm & Marie, shot during the COVID-19 era and starring Zendaya and John David Washington, was noted for its two-hander format and real-time intensity.1 In 2023 he co-created and executive produced the HBO series The Idol, which received considerable media attention and polarized critical response.1 Across his work Levinson is frequently recognized for a bold visual sensibility, music-forward editing, and themes exploring addiction, fame, sex, and trauma, sometimes provoking debate about representation and authorship.1,5 He is the son of filmmaker Barry Levinson and has collaborated with high-profile actors and musicians in film and television.1 Current relevance stems from Euphoria’s ongoing cultural impact and subsequent projects in development or release where he remains credited as a showrunner, writer, or executive producer.1,5 1. Wikipedia; 2. IMDb.