As one of Hollywood’s hottest young stars, Sydney Sweeney has her choice of fashionable gowns as designers clamour to dress her.
But the 23-year-old The White Lotus actress’s outfit for her latest film is as far away from a red carpet as you can get.
Sydney stars in the psychological horror movie Immaculate as young nun Cecilia, who is invited to stay in a beautiful convent in Italy that harbours awful secrets. And she loved dressing up in the traditional full-length nun’s habit.
“It was a little uncomfortable, but also a lot of fun. I had a little secret pouch inside with candy, and I would have a little snack in the middle of a take. It was great.
“But also, the costumes were incredible. Everything was custommade. Not one single piece was bought. Everything was actually handmade and very particular.”
Although the film is designed to terrify, Sydney relished playing a complex part. “I think one of the most exciting parts of Cecilia is how innocent she is at the beginning, and the journey she goes on. I love how she finds strength in herself that she has no idea she has,” she says.
“It’s fun and exciting to play a character who unlocks potential and strength they never knew they had. She’s an incredible character and definitely terrifying.”
DATE WITH DESTINY
The idea for Immaculate was first mooted ten years ago and a teenage Sydney auditioned for a part. It never went into production, but she could not get the role of Cecilia out of her mind.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Every year, I would call my agent and ask them what happened to it, but nothing had. And then ten years later, here we are,” she says.
“I’m so happy we brought this story to life and that [director] Michael Mohan, whom I’d worked with on Everything Sucks! and The Voyeurs, could do it.”
As well as playing the leading lady, Sydney is also one of the film’s producers, a career move she was keen to make. “It’s something I have always wanted to do. I love building my characters from the ground up, and producing gives me the chance to do that on a greater scale.
“I find it fascinating,” she continues. “There are so many elements and people that have to come together to make a movie work, even before an actor shows up on set. I love being part of that process from the beginning to the end. I want to be a part of everything.
“I learnt so much on Immaculate. I was able to really get to know each department and to understand their time, t
