It started as a simple romantic comedy shot under the Australian sun. Nobody expected it to turn into one of the most dissected celebrity friendships of the decade. When Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney signed on to star in Anyone But You, they probably thought they were just making a fun movie. Instead, they walked into a firestorm of dating rumors, internet theories, and endless public speculation that followed them for years.
The film hit theaters in late 2023 and became a genuine box office surprise. It grossed over $220 million worldwide, a stunning number for a genre that Hollywood had mostly abandoned. Audiences showed up not for the plot or the location. They showed up because they wanted to watch two people who seemed to genuinely enjoy being around each other. That rare, unforced chemistry became impossible to ignore.
Quick Bio
| Category | Glen Powell | Sydney Sweeney |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Glen Thomas Powell Jr. | Sydney Bernice Sweeney |
| Age | 37 (born October 21, 1988) | 28 (born September 12, 1997) |
| Birthplace | Austin, Texas, USA | Spokane, Washington, USA |
| Height | 6 feet (183 cm) | 5 feet 3½ inches (161 cm) |
| Parents | Cyndy Powell and Glen Powell Sr. | Lisa Mudd Sweeney and Steven Scott Sweeney |
| Siblings | Two sisters: Lauren and Leslie | One younger brother: Trent Sweeney |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (attended) | UCLA (studied entrepreneurship, attended) |
| Net Worth | $10–12 million | $40 million |
| Breakout Role | Top Gun: Maverick (2022) | Euphoria (2019) |
| First Acting Credit | Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) | The Ward (2010) |
| Physical Appearance | Athletic build, green eyes, light brown hair | Petite, hourglass shape, blue eyes, blonde hair |
| Instagram Handle | @glenpowell | @sydney_sweeney |
| Known For | Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You, Hidden Figures, Set It Up | Euphoria, The White Lotus, Anyone But You, Reality |
| Production Work | Writer and producer on several projects | Owns a production company focused on female-led stories |
| Fun Facts | Performed his own stunts in Top Gun; loves Texas barbecue | Trains in MMA; has a scar near her eye from wakeboarding |
| Relationship Status | Single | Single |
Who Glen Powell Really Is Beyond the Headlines
Glen Thomas Powell Jr. came into this world on October 21, 1988, in Austin, Texas. He is 37 years old as of 2026 and carries his Texas roots with him everywhere. His mother Cyndy and father Glen Sr. raised him alongside two older sisters, Lauren and Leslie, in a household that valued hard work and humility. Growing up in the Lone Star State gave him that easygoing, charming demeanor that audiences find so appealing on screen.
Standing at 6 feet tall with an athletic build, green eyes, and light brown hair, Powell looks every bit the leading man. His first brush with acting came in 2003 with a small role in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. He spent years bouncing around Hollywood, taking whatever parts came his way. The University of Texas at Austin saw him as a student briefly, but acting pulled him away before he could finish his degree.
How Glen Powell Built His Career One Role at a Time
For years, Powell worked steadily without becoming a household name. He appeared in The Dark Knight Rises briefly. He showed up in Scream Queens. He held his own in Everybody Wants Some. But the real turning point arrived in 2016 when he played astronaut John Glenn in Hidden Figures. That film became a massive hit and earned critical praise, and suddenly people started recognizing his face in a new way.
Then came Top Gun: Maverick in 2022. Playing Lieutenant Jake Hangman Seresin changed everything for Powell. The film earned nearly 1.5 billion dollars worldwide and made him a genuine movie star overnight. His performance as the cocky but lovable fighter pilot showed audiences that he could handle both charm and vulnerability in equal measure. His estimated net worth now sits between 10 and 12 million dollars, a testament to years of steady work finally paying off.
Sydney Sweeney’s Journey From Spokane to Stardom
Sydney Bernice Sweeney was born on September 12, 1997, in Spokane, Washington. She is 28 years old as of 2026 and carries herself with a quiet confidence that belies her age. Her mother Lisa worked as a lawyer while her father Steven worked in hospitality. She has a younger brother named Trent who also pursues acting. The family moved to Los Angeles when Sydney convinced them with a detailed five year business plan. She was just a teenager at the time.
Standing at 5 feet 3½ inches tall with blue eyes and blonde hair, Sweeney has a petite but curvy frame. Her body measurements are 38-25-35 inches. A small scar near her eye serves as a reminder of a childhood wakeboarding accident. She attended UCLA to study entrepreneurship, balancing her acting career with a genuine interest in building something lasting behind the camera. That business mindset has served her well.
The Roles That Made Sydney Sweeney Unforgettable
Sweeney’s breakout came in 2018 with two very different projects. She played Emaline in the Netflix series Everything Sucks, showing her range in a nostalgic coming of age story. That same year, she appeared in HBO’s Sharp Objects opposite Amy Adams, proving she could hold her own in serious drama. But the role that truly launched her into another level came in 2019 when she landed the part of Cassie Howard on HBO’s Euphoria.
Euphoria became a cultural phenomenon, and Sweeney’s raw, vulnerable performance earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 2022. That same year, she also starred in The White Lotus as Olivia Mossbacher, showcasing her skill with dark comedy. Other major credits include The Handmaid’s Tale, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Reality, and Madame Web. Her estimated net worth has grown to roughly 40 million dollars, built on talent and smart career choices.
How Anyone But You Brought Them Together
The film that changed everything came together in a fairly straightforward way. Anyone But You, a modern romantic comedy loosely inspired by Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, needed two leads who could convince audiences they could go from enemies to lovers. The plot follows Bea, played by Sweeney, and Ben, played by Powell, two people who share an amazing first date followed by a huge misunderstanding. They end up pretending to be a couple at a destination wedding in Australia.
Powell later said on set that a great romantic comedy does not survive without great chemistry. He added that Sweeney was the easiest person to have chemistry with, saying it felt like they had known each other forever. Sweeney has echoed those sentiments multiple times, describing their connection as beautiful and effortless. That natural ease is exactly what audiences saw on screen, and exactly what started all the speculation.
The Moment the Internet Decided They Were Dating
When the film’s promotional tour began, fans noticed something interesting. Powell had been dating model Gigi Paris for several years. Sweeney had been engaged to businessman Jonathan Davino since March 2022. Both relationships appeared stable. Then in April 2023, Powell and Paris broke up. Fans immediately connected the timing to the Anyone But You press tour and to Sweeney. The speculation had officially begun.
Things intensified in March 2025 when Sweeney and Davino ended their engagement after three years. The internet went into overdrive. Fans started analyzing every interview clip, every red carpet appearance, every Instagram post for hidden meaning. When Sweeney attended her sister’s wedding in Dallas and was spotted with Powell wearing her natural curly hair instead of her usual straightened style, a theory was born. People called it the natural hair theory, believing that women wear their hair naturally when they feel truly comfortable with someone.
What Glen and Sydney Have Actually Said Publicly
Throughout all the noise, both actors have spoken about their relationship multiple times. Powell told one outlet that he loves her and thinks she is the greatest. He described their connection as a great friendship where they genuinely cheer for each other. He has never wavered from describing their bond as platonic but deeply caring. His mother Cyndy even stepped in publicly to deny the dating rumors, calling Sweeney a really good friend of the family.
Sweeney has been equally direct. She told Variety that the press actually created the narrative themselves. She said there was no leaning into the rumors per se, explaining that people simply saw a beautiful connection between two people who enjoy each other. She even addressed the speculation during a Saturday Night Live monologue, joking about the affair rumors and emphatically stating they were obviously not true. Both have consistently maintained they are just friends.
The Marketing Strategy That Blurred Every Line
In April 2024, both actors gave a revealing joint interview to the New York Times. They admitted something that surprised many readers. They had intentionally leaned into the dating rumors as a marketing strategy for the film. Powell explained that selling a romantic comedy requires fun and chemistry, and they had both in abundance. He said sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit, and it worked wonderfully for the movie’s success.
Sweeney added that she had been actively involved in the strategy. She said she was personally blowing up PR text group chats, keeping everyone at Sony marketing and distribution awake at night because she kept coming up with new ideas. However, she later seemed to soften this stance, telling Variety that the press did it themselves and insisting there was no leaning in per se. The contradictory statements have left fans unsure what to believe.
The Personal Cost of Public Speculation
While the PR strategy worked for the movie’s box office, it came with real human consequences. Gigi Paris, Powell’s ex girlfriend, spoke openly about how the rumors affected her. She said on the Too Much podcast that the experience left her feeling fed to the dogs. She expressed frustration that Powell never publicly stood up to say he would never cheat on his girlfriend, adding that was all that needed to be said to protect her.
Paris also shared a more painful thought. She said she did not know if there was actually a relationship between Powell and Sweeney or not. But when they later claimed it was all a PR scheme, she felt that her real relationship had been sacrificed for movie promotion. She admitted she had actually hoped they would end up together, just to make the hurt worth something. Her words offer a rare glimpse into how celebrity gossip affects real people behind the headlines.
Where Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney Stand Today
As of 2026, both actors are officially single. Powell has not been publicly linked to anyone since his split from Gigi Paris. He has focused on his career and upcoming projects, including several films in development. Sweeney ended her engagement to Jonathan Davino in March 2025 and has been casually linked to music executive Scooter Braun, though neither has confirmed anything serious. She has described this phase of her life as something she is truly loving and enjoying.
The rumors about Powell and Sweeney have quieted but not disappeared entirely. In late 2025, Sweeney’s Christy co star Katy O’Brian jokingly called her Glen Powell’s girl during an interview. Fans immediately ran with the comment, reigniting the old speculation for a brief moment. O’Brian quickly clarified it was just a joke between friends, but the damage had already been done. The internet does not forget, and it does not easily let go of a good story.
Why We Cannot Stop Talking About Their Connection
There is something about watching two people who genuinely enjoy each other. Maybe it is rare enough in real life that when we see it on screen, we want to believe it is real. Maybe we have become so accustomed to manufactured Hollywood relationships that authentic warmth feels suspicious. Or maybe fans simply love the idea of a love story playing out behind the scenes, adding another layer to a film they already adore.
Whatever the reason, the fascination with Powell and Sweeney says as much about us as it does about them. We want to believe in movie magic. We want to believe that the people making us laugh and cry on screen might actually feel something real for each other. It makes the entertainment feel more meaningful. It makes the romance feel more earned. Whether or not anything ever happened between them, their chemistry gave audiences something to root for.
What Their Friendship Teaches Us About Hollywood
Not every close friendship has to become a romance. Two people can share genuine warmth, affection, and care without it crossing into something physical or romantic. Powell and Sweeney have demonstrated that repeatedly through their public statements and their continued support of each other’s careers. They have shown that men and women can be close friends in Hollywood without hidden agendas.
The industry does not always make that easy. Studios benefit from dating rumors because they sell tickets. Publicists sometimes encourage ambiguity because it keeps names in headlines. But Powell and Sweeney have navigated that pressure with varying degrees of success and honesty. Their story serves as a case study in how modern celebrity works, where the line between real life and marketing blurs until neither the audience nor the participants can see it clearly anymore.
Fun Facts That Make Them More Human
Glen Powell has worked as both a writer and a producer, not just an actor. He performed many of his own stunts in Top Gun Maverick, showing a commitment to authenticity. His favorite food is Texas barbecue, and his favorite restaurant is The Salt Lick near Austin. He comes from mixed ancestry including Polish, English, and German roots. He remains close with his family and returns to Texas whenever his schedule allows.
Sydney Sweeney trains in mixed martial arts in her spare time. She loves wakeboarding and still carries the scar from her childhood accident in that sport. She owns her own production company focused on female led stories. She has said that her experience as a young actress taught her the importance of controlling her own career. She remains close with her brother Trent, who is also pursuing acting, and the two support each other’s projects.
The Future for Both Stars
Glen Powell has several projects in development, including potential sequels and original films. He has expressed interest in continuing to produce and write, not just act. Industry insiders believe he is positioning himself as a leading man for the next decade, following in the footsteps of actors like Matthew McConaughey from his same home state. His Texas charm and genuine likeability seem to be his greatest assets moving forward.
Sydney Sweeney continues to build her production company while taking on challenging acting roles. She has said she wants to produce stories that center women’s experiences in authentic ways. Her business minded approach sets her apart from many actors her age. Whether she returns to Euphoria for another season remains unclear, but her career trajectory suggests she will continue to rise. Both stars seem positioned for long, successful careers regardless of who they date.
The Takeaway From This Internet Frenzy
Looking back at the entire saga, one thing becomes clear. Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney gave audiences something rare and precious. They made a romantic comedy that actually worked, that actually made people believe in love and laughter and happy endings. In an era when cynicism often wins, their film reminded millions of people why the genre matters. That is no small accomplishment.
Whether or not there was ever anything romantic behind the scenes has become almost irrelevant. The friendship they share appears genuine. The respect they have for each other seems real. And the movie they made together will likely be enjoyed for years to come. Sometimes the best love story is not about who ends up together in real life, but about how two people can make an audience believe in something beautiful for a couple of hours. That is its own kind of magic.
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FAQs
Are Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney dating?
No. Both have publicly stated they are just close friends. Glen Powell’s mother also confirmed they are not dating and that Sydney is simply a good friend of the family.
What movie did Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney star in together?
They starred together as the lead couple in the romantic comedy Anyone But You, released in late 2023. The film was a surprise box office hit, grossing over $220 million worldwide.
Did they fake the dating rumors to promote the movie?
Yes, they admitted in a 2024 New York Times interview that they intentionally leaned into the dating speculation as a marketing strategy to sell the film.
What are their ages and net worth?
Glen Powell is 37 years old with a net worth of approximately $10 to $12 million. Sydney Sweeney is 28 years old with a net worth of approximately $40 million.
Are both actors single right now?
Yes, as of 2026 both are single. Powell split from Gigi Paris in 2023, and Sweeney ended her engagement to Jonathan Davino in March 2025.
