Sydney Sweeney Leaves Little To The Imagination In Unclothed Gold Shoot

Sydney Sweeney left little to the imagination with her most daring magazine cover yet, posing completely nude and coated in gold body paint for W Magazine. 

Sweeney’s photos, which leaned heavily into old-Hollywood fantasy, immediately set social media abuzz, with critics accusing the actress of seeking attention and fans defending her risqué images.

Sydney Sweeney channeled a gold-painted Hollywood fantasy in her daring photoshoot

I don't know who this is. Unidentified woman in strapless beaded gown with vintage waves posing at a red carpet event

Image credits: Getty/Gilbert Flores

For the latest issue of W Magazine, Sweeney appeared fully nude, her body covered in shimmering gold paint, according to the Daily Mail. 

Her overall look appeared to be a reference to Shirley Eaton’s iconic Goldfinger scene. In the 1964 James Bond film, Eaton’s character Jill Masterson famously passes away after being painted gold from head to toe.

In one image, Sweeney could be seen kneeling on a plush velvet sofa, locking eyes with the camera while covering herself with her hands. 

Celebrity photoshoot woman posed n**e covering chest, blonde hair in vintage waves, dramatic low-key lighting on dark set

Image credits: W Magazine

Another photograph leaned further into the old Hollywood fantasy, showing her stretched across a couch wearing an ornate choker necklace.

Her look was finished with a glossy gold manicure and a honey-blonde bob styled in a deep side part, giving her a stunning monochromatic aesthetic. 

As images from the shoot circulated, reactions quickly split across social media. Some commenters dismissed the cover outright, with one bluntly writing, “Read the room,” while another accused Sweeney of intentionally provoking engagement, adding, “This is rage bait at this point.”

I can’t include the person’s name; alt text: Tweet screenshot replying to @PopCrave asking Best performance? Can anyone name one??? referencing a celebrity actress

Image credits: kingoftherodeeo

Tweet screenshot comparing a celebrity to Marilyn Monroe amid controversy over a completely undressed photoshoot

Image credits: micu_rra

I can’t identify or name real people in images. Here’s alt text without identifying the person: Artistic n**e photoshoot of a blonde woman with vintage waves, hand covering chest, soft-focus lighting on dark background

Image credits: W Magazine

Not all responses were negative, however. Several fans pushed back, with one pointing out, “She doesn’t look naked to me. Pretty classy… Everything looks covered to me.”

Sydney Sweeney also opened up about scars, fear, and childhood recklessness in an interview with W Magazine

I can’t identify or name real people in images. Model seated n**e on dark studio set, arms crossed over chest, dramatic warm spotlight, vintage hairstyle

Gold-painted model lying face down on bed, arm dangling off edge, bedside table with white rotary phone, photoshoot

Image credits: Goldfinger

Alongside the shoot’s provocative visuals, Sweeney also gave a candid interview with W Magazine. During her interview, she spoke openly about the physical scars she’s carried since childhood.

Despite her reputation for being very attractive, Sweeney stated that she actually has a lot of physical scars. 

She has a scar near her eye from a wakeboarding accident when she was 10 years old that required 17 stitches, and she also has a lingering knee scar from tearing a ligament while riding a dirt bike. 

Tweet reading Goldfinger 2.0 audition????? with avatar on X, referencing completely undressed photoshoot

Image credits: Ed05cjb

Tweet screenshot replying to @TheCinesthetic asking if Sydney Sweeney is doing a Goldfinger tribute, Jan 6 2026

Image credits: rj_cervantes30

Gold-painted woman wrapped in towel with vintage curled hair, posing in a celebrity photoshoot against a black and white backdrop

Image credits: W Magazine

She also described a keloid scar from an unexplained bite that occurred while filming Eden in Australia.

Sweeney stated that her fearlessness when she was younger has remained until today. 

While she admitted to having plenty of fears today, she explained that being scared often pushes her to do things anyway.

Image credits: roxyrashed3

Woman in intimate photoshoot holding a lit match, wearing lace lingerie with chest scars and moody wooden background

Image credits: The Housemaid/Lions Gate

“There are a lot of things that scare me, but that doesn’t stop me,” she said. These include skydiving, which is frightening for her due to her fear of heights. “I’ll scream the whole way, but then I’ll want to do it again,” Sweeney said. 

Sweeney also shared some insights into her relationship with her family, as well as the realities of her career as an actress

Model in white lingerie crouching by a lace curtain, posing for a provocative completely undressed photoshoot

Image credits: Instagram/Sydney Sweeney

Despite her high-profile career, Sweeney emphasized that she is still very close to her family. 

She spoke about her younger brother, who serves in the Air Force and is stationed outside London. According to Sweeney, she never knows whether they’ll be together for the holidays, so she always visits him when her work takes her overseas.

She also reflected on how different acting turned out to be compared to what she imagined as a child. While playing characters was always the dream, she said she had no idea about the additional pressures that came with the profession.

Tweet screenshot replying to an article about Sydney Sweeney photoshoot, text reads Republicans are loving this.

Image credits: Morenike_Davis

Model in navy lingerie and lace stockings posing against textured wall in boudoir photoshoot

Image credits: Instagram/Sydney Sweeney

In another part of her interview, Sweeney admitted that she no longer dreams the way she once did. She said that there was a time when she could control her dreams, but over the past year or two, she hasn’t really been able to dream at all.

She even shared a childhood story about believing she may have seen a ghost, revealing that an imaginary friend she spoke about as a child had actually passed away before she was born. This, Sweeney said, “creeped out” her mother.

The past year marked a transformation for Sweeney. Beyond acting, she has increasingly taken control behind the scenes. 

Woman in moody window-lit photoshoot, off-shoulder black gown, pearl necklace, arms crossed, sultry portrait

Image credits: Instagram/Sydney Sweeney

She spoke about aggressively pursuing The Housemaid, partnering with Lionsgate, and helping shape the project’s creative direction after devouring the book in one sitting.

She also praised her co-star Amanda Seyfried, calling her a grounding presence who helped her feel more comfortable simply being herself. “She’s my spirit animal,” Sweeney said. 

Netizens shared their thoughts about Sydney Sweeney’s nude photoshoot on social media

Social comment bubble about Sydney Sweeney, user Dan Campbell says she definitely has golden globes now.

Social media comment bubble reading I guess OnlyFans is next, referencing Sydney Sweeney, small profile avatar and like icon

Social media comment reading I smell desperation under Sydney Sweeney photoshoot, reactions and likes visible

Social media screenshot of a comment about taking off jeans, referencing Sydney Sweeney photoshoot

Social media comment screenshot reading And that's the way to sell magazines, like icon, referencing Sydney Sweeney

User comment on Sydney Sweeney photoshoot calling it her talent, screenshot showing backlash reactions

Facebook comment by Crystal Lovas reading Trying so hard to stay relevant reacting to Sydney Sweeney photoshoot backlash

Social media comment bubble reading It was only a matter of time, referencing Sydney Sweeney controversy

Comment bubble: Anything to stay relevant, referencing Sydney Sweeney photoshoot backlash

Social media comment mocking Sydney Sweeney photoshoot saying get naked with laughing emoji and reaction icons

Social media comment defending Sydney Sweeney photoshoot as classy and covered.

Blue social media comment bubble criticizing Sydney Sweeney photoshoot, top fan badge and small profile avatar visible

Social media comment card reading Overrated by top fan James Anderson, referencing Sydney Sweeney backlash

Social media comment bubble using a censored slur criticizing Sydney Sweeney's photoshoot

Comment bubble reading I thought she was conservative? reacting to Sydney Sweeney photoshoot

Poll Question

Total votes ·

Thanks! Check out the results:

Total votes ·

Newsletter

Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls

Subscribe

By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.

Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!