Sydney Sweeney‘s role as Cassie Howard has been one of the most discussed performances in ‘Euphoria’, and more new details from creator Sam Levinson have emerged about how much the actress was involved in the writing of her character’s final arc.
As HBO’s controversial drama nears its conclusion, Levinson shared some insights into working with Sweeney on season 3 and an unexpected behind-the-scenes tidbit. The creator said he had originally thought about toning down some of the more explicit content of Cassie. However, Sweeney didn’t feel it was a viable route for the character.
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Cassie’s situation is vastly different when season 3 begins. When she hits financial hardships and dreams of a perfect life with Nate Jacobs, she eventually resorts to online content creation as a means of income. Levinson admitted that he had initially considered developing the idea of playing some of that story without as much screen time.
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“Well, it’s funny. When I first wrote it, I was like, ‘Maybe we shoot all of this, and we don’t have any nudity. Maybe there are ways to shoot around certain things?’ And she looked at me, and she was like, ‘Are you kidding? I’m playing an OnlyFans model. You’re telling me you’re going to, like, skirt around it?” he shared.
Sweeney believed it would be “dishonest” to exclude those elements when the character is in that situation. Her argument finally swayed Levinson. The actress felt the show shouldn’t be afraid of the consequences of taking on an online subscription model.
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Levinson also discussed the larger issue of nudity and intimacy in ‘Euphoria’, which has been a thread throughout the show. The creator says actors are briefed early on what a role might ask of them, and opportunities are provided to discuss boundaries throughout the process.
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He said that performers always have the option to refuse a scene and that it is still important to have a safe space to produce authentic performances. “I believe very strongly that the best, most honest performances are when an actor feels free and safe. That’s how you get a great performance. You can’t know if there is any tension. The emotion is going to be blocked.”
Trust is the key to that process for Levinson. He called Sweeney “fearless” in her dedication to Cassie and the fact that they worked together during the show. After the dust has settled on ‘Euphoria’, it’s hard to imagine the conversation about its creative decisions will ever end.
The latest remarks, however, provide a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes, revealing that some of the show’s most controversial moments were not only dictated by the writers and directors, but by the actors who were making the stories come to life.
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