Actress Sydney Sweeney made a stunning appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film, The Housemaid, on Monday night, paying a clear sartorial homage to Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe.
A Nod to a Hollywood Icon
The 28-year-old star attended the high-profile event in a custom white gown by designer Galia Lahav. The dress featured a plunging halter neckline, a waist-cinching corset bodice, and a dramatic pleated skirt trimmed with ostrich feathers. With her blonde hair styled in soft waves and a classic red lip, Sweeney bore a striking resemblance to the late screen siren, Monroe.
The look was a direct reference to one of Monroe's most famous moments, captured in 1954 on the set of The Seven Year Itch. In those iconic photographs, Monroe wore a little white dress whose skirt was famously blown up by air from a subway grate in New York City.
All About 'The Housemaid'
Sweeney's latest cinematic project, The Housemaid, is scheduled to hit UK and US theatres on December 19. In the film, she plays Millie, a live-in housemaid attempting to start afresh and leave her troubled past behind. Her character works for a seemingly polished woman named Nina Winchester, portrayed by Amanda Seyfried, who is married to Andrew Winchester, played by Brandon Sklenar.
The plot takes a dark turn when the Winchesters' perfect facade begins to crumble, thrusting Millie into a perilous situation. The movie is described as a 'seductive game of secrets, scandal and power.'
Director Paul Feig has praised the onscreen chemistry between executive producers and co-stars Sweeney and Seyfried, telling People magazine that their dynamic is 'through the roof.' 'They are both such powerful talents and work so well off each other that you very quickly get sucked into their onscreen world,' he shared. The film is an adaptation of the 2022 novel of the same name by Freida McFadden.
Reflecting on Resilience in Hollywood
The premiere comes shortly after Sweeney offered candid advice about navigating the film industry's challenges. At the New York City premiere for The Housemaid, she spoke to PEOPLE about the reality of facing rejection.
'Honestly, do it as long as you love it,' she advised aspiring actors. 'You gotta love it a lot, because it's really hard, and you're going to be told "no" more than you're gonna be told "yes."' The Euphoria actress emphasised the need to persevere, adding, 'You have to deal with rejection, and it's a lot. So if you love it to your core, then none of that matters because you're getting to do what you love.'
This perspective follows the recent box office performance of her other project, the biopic Christy, in which she played boxer Christy Martin. Released on November 7, the film reportedly grossed approximately $1.3 million across 2,011 theatres, averaging about $649 per venue.
For the after-party following The Housemaid premiere, Sweeney changed into a strapless white mini dress, continuing her evening of classic Hollywood-inspired glamour.
