Sydney Sweeney’s acting coach Scott Sedita says the ‘Euphoria’ star is a “serious actress” after being criticized by producer Carol Baum.
“Sydney is beautiful because she has an inner depth, an intellect, compassion, style and facial features — eyes, smile, cheekbones — that the camera angles capture,” Sedita told TMZ. “The camera likes his ‘look’ and so does the audience. Audiences love her because she is approachable and relatable.
“She’s been through the ups and downs of this business,” he continued.
“So you have to be a serious actress if you want to get through all this. When she receives feedback or criticism, she processes it, uses her acting technique and makes adjustments.
Sedita’s supportive comments come after Baum, 81, said the “White Lotus” alum “can’t act.”
“She’s not pretty, she can’t act,” Baum reportedly said at a screening of his 1988 film “Dead Ringers” at the Jacob Burns Center in Pleasantville, New York, last weekend. “I don’t understand Sydney Sweeney.”
Baum’s assessment of the 26-year-old’s acting abilities came after watching Sweeney and Glen Powell in their steamy film “Anyone But You.”
“I wanted to know who she is and why everyone is talking about her,” Baum reportedly told the audience before declaring the film “unwatchable.”
“I told my class, ‘Tell me about this girl.’ She’s not pretty, she doesn’t know how to play. Why is she so hot,’” the “Father of the Bride” producer continued. “No one had an answer.”
Despite the unflattering remarks, Baum admitted that she would still work with Sweeney on a project.
Several fans of the Immaculate star chastised Baum for his remarks.
Hollywood producer Carol BAUM, who looks like this, criticizes Sydney Sweeney saying she’s not pretty.” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“God give me the confidence of the great Hollywood producer Carol Baum who said this about Sydney Sweeney ‘(she’s) not pretty and she can’t act’. Judge for yourself,” a second person added.
Sweeney’s representatives later told the Post that it was “shameful” for Baum to say things like that.
“How sad that a woman in a position to share her expertise and experience would instead choose to attack another woman,” a spokesperson for the two-time Emmy nominee told the Post.
“If this is what she has learned over her decades in the industry and feels it is appropriate to teach her students, that is shameful.” Unfairly denigrating a fellow producer says a lot about Ms. Baum’s character.
Baum has since regretted making the comments.
“She wishes she had never made her original comments,” TMZ reported, “and shitting on an actor like that in public isn’t usually her style.”
New York Post
