Life and career[edit]

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Sydney moved with her parents and two older brothers to New York City when she was two years old. Her parents run a software consulting company.^[2] In 2009, at age 6, Lucas underwent heart surgery to treat an atrial septal defect. Her older brother Jake Lucas is also a professional actor, and the two have appeared together in a commercial for Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup, and alongside Jennifer Aniston in the movie She's Funny That Way, which was released in 2015.^[3] She has studied acting with Diane Hardin and singing with Badiene Magaziner.^[2] She has also studied singing with her mother, Karri Lucas, who has a degree in vocal performance from DePauw University.^[4] She currently is a student in Manhattan.


In 2014, at the age of 10, Lucas became the youngest individual to win an Obie Award for her portrayal of Small Alison in the original Off-Broadway cast of Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori's musical Fun Home.^[5] That same year, she was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award, among other prestigious prizes. Lucas continued with the show when it moved to Broadway, winning a Theatre World Award,^[6] and receiving a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 2015 at the age of 11.^[7] Lucas left the company of Fun Home on October 4, 2015.^[8][9]


Lucas played Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden with Manhattan Concert Productions on February 21 and 22, 2016 at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall.^[10]


Lucas has portrayed the younger version of two different characters played by Kristen Wiig in the films Girl Most Likely (2012) and The Skeleton Twins (2014).^[11] Her television credits include guest roles on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Royal Pains, Saturday Night Live, and Team Umizoomi.^[2] She has also appeared as Malcolm's Daughter in Giuseppe Verdi's Macbeth at the Metropolitan Opera in 2012.^[4]