Sydney Sweeney is turning 2026 into her golden era.
The actress, 28, channeled James Bond glamour by posing naked in shimmering body paint for the cover of W Magazine’s 2026 “Best Performances” issue. The photo shoot was reminiscent of Shirley Eaton’s iconic film scene as Jill Masterson in 1964’s Goldfinger.
Sweeney’s sultry look for the cover seemed to be a nod to the film, complete with vintage curls in an Old Hollywood bob hairstyle, a soft pout, sultry lighting and a cinematic gaze.
The cover features Sweeney with her hands seductively covering her chest as she poses on a plush velvet sofa. Another image shows the Euphoria actress at a side angle, highlighting her voluminous lashes as she dons a sparkling diamond Chopard Haute Joaillerie necklace with a hand placed on her thigh.
A third image, captured via a Polaroid camera, shows Sweeney wrapped in a white towel.
The star raved over photographer Tyrone Lebon on Instagram, calling his work “incredible.”
W Magazine photographed 16 A-listers for various covers, featuring her Euphoria costar Jacob Elordi, George Clooney, A$AP Rocky, Emma Stone and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — just to name a few.
As part of Sweeney’s cover shoot, she gave a candid interview discussing her rise to fame, aspirations and career moves.
“When I was little, it was more wanting to play different characters, and that part has come true,” she shared about becoming a household name, revealing fame has been quite a different experience than she expected.
Sweeney added, “I had no idea about everything else that came along with it.” She also discussed her latest film projects, including The Housemaid, which is currently in theaters.
“I was a huge fan of the book,” she said of her contribution to getting The Housemaid produced. “The moment I opened the first page, I did not put it down until I finished. I knew there was a script circulating, and I went after it.”
Sweeney noted that she is committed to the roles she takes on, even gaining 30 pounds to portray boxer Christy Martin. “I did physically change for it, so I was still coming home as Christy, in a sense,” she said. “But the emotions, fights, and traumas that she went through, I tried not to bring those home with me.”
“I’ve always trained myself to separate as much as I can from my characters and not to put my own thoughts or memories into a scene,” the actress explained about her creative process when filming a scene. “It allows me to know that a character is the one experiencing those moments, feelings, and scenarios — I’m not.”
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When asked if she’s fearless, Sweeney said that she is always determined to overcome obstacles, whether they be personal or professional.
“There are a lot of things that scare me, but that doesn’t stop me,” she said. “Usually, if something scares me, then I’m going to do it.”
She continued, “I have a fear of heights, but I jumped out of a plane and went skydiving. I’ll scream the whole way, but then I’ll want to do it again.”
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Article source: https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/news/sydney-sweeney-poses-naked-in-gold-body-paint-for-w-magazine/