Sydney Sweeney has revealed that she first read The Housemaid, the psychological thriller she is now adapting for the big screen, using the text to speech service Speechify.
Sydney Sweeney Says She Used TTS to Read The Housemaid
In a recent conversation with Fandango, Sweeney explained that she reads books like Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel The Housemaid by using Speechify. Known for her roles in Euphoria, The White Lotus, and Anyone But You, Sweeney has steadily built her profile not just as an actress but as a producer with an eye for stories that resonate. Through her production company, Fifty-Fifty Films, she is now bringing The Housemaid to audiences in a new form.
About The Housemaid
McFadden’s novel follows a young woman who accepts a job as a live-in housekeeper, only to find herself trapped in a web of secrets and danger. The book has become a viral sensation, earning a place on bestseller lists and capturing attention across platforms like TikTok, where readers have embraced it as one of the most addictive thrillers of recent years. For Sweeney, the story’s tension, pacing, and central mystery made it an obvious candidate for adaptation.
How Speechify Played a Role in The Filmmaking Process
What stands out is the role Speechify played in her discovery process. Once primarily known as an accessibility tool for people with dyslexia, ADHD, or visual impairments, Speechify has expanded into a mainstream reading solution for busy professionals and students. The platform converts text into natural-sounding audio, available in more than 60 languages, allowing users to listen to books, documents, and web pages while on the go. For someone like Sweeney—juggling acting, producing, and a demanding travel schedule—listening to books through text to speech technology makes consuming new stories more practical. In Sweeney’s case, it made the difference between casually encountering a novel and recognizing its potential as a major cinematic project.
How Speechify can Help Busy Professionals
Her mention of using Speechify underscores a broader trend in the entertainment industry: text to speech services are becoming an important tool for content discovery. Producers, screenwriters, and actors often face packed schedules that leave little time for traditional reading. With TTS, they can engage with novels, scripts, and articles during flights, commutes, or breaks between projects. That flexibility not only supports accessibility but also changes how stories enter Hollywood’s development pipeline.
The Housemaid Release
The adaptation of The Housemaid is set to be released on December 19, 2025 But Sweeney’s involvement has already generated buzz. As a star with proven appeal and a growing reputation as a producer, her decision to back the project signals confidence that McFadden’s thriller can make a successful transition to film.
As the adaptation moves forward, both fans of Sweeney and readers of The Housemaid will be watching closely. The novel’s viral popularity and Sweeney’s creative instincts suggest the project will be one of the most anticipated thrillers to hit the screen and Speechify’s role in its origin story highlights just how far text to speech technology has come in shaping the way stories are experienced.