In an exclusive interview with US Weekly, the author behind the book that inspired The Housemaid, Freida McFadden revealed what made Sydney Sweeney the right pick for the film. While speaking to the outlet at the 2026 TIME100Gala on April 23, Freida said,
“She has the right vibe. She has this great energy and passion.”
The film stars Sydney Sweeney in the role of Millie, a young woman who becomes a live-in maid for wealthy couple Nina (played by Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (played by Brandon Sklenar). Soon, secrets about the couple come to life.
This is not the first time Freida has complimented Sweeney. In a September 16, 2025, Instagram post, Freida claimed that she got a sneak preview of the film and gave an early review.
“I was lucky enough to get to watch a sneak preview of The Housemaid movie, and I absolutely LOVED it! The second it was over, I turned to my husband in the theater and said, ‘Omg, I think it was better than the book!’ (And he said, ‘Yeah’). And the performances by all the actors were nothing short of incredible.”
Freida McFadden teases The Housemaid second film
Freida McFadden released The Housemaid’s Secret, the second book in the series, in February 2023. While speaking to US Weekly, the author mentioned that the film adaptation of the second book is underway, with Sydney Sweeney returning to the screen alongside Kirsten Dunst.
“I’m so excited about it. We have Kirsten Dunst, who I’ve been a fan of pretty much my whole life. I think it’s gonna (have) completely new twists, completely new family, and I think it’s gonna surprise people.”
Freida McFadden is the author’s pen name, and she revealed her real identity, Sara Cohen, earlier this month. Sara Cohen is also a doctor who treats brain injuries. While speaking to USA Today earlier this month, Freida opened up about why she chose to reveal her identity.
Frieda mentioned that she was at a point in her career when she was tired of her identity being a secret, and tired of debating if she’s a real person or three men. The author claimed that her original claim was to keep her identity a secret until she decided to step back from her doctor’s job. Freida mentioned that she didn’t want her colleagues to question her ability of being a doctor.
The Housemaid 2 is scheduled for a theatrical release in December 2027.
Edited by Abhimanyu Sharma