Sydney Sweeney transforms into boxing legend Christy Martin for TIFF biopic premiere
The Emmy-nominated actress gained over 30 pounds of muscle to portray the trailblazing fighter in ‘Christy,’ debuting this September.
Sydney Sweeney is stepping into the ring, literally, for her most physically demanding role to date. In the upcoming biopic Christy, the 'Euphoria’ and 'Immaculate’ star plays Christy Martin, the pioneering boxer who broke barriers in the male-dominated sport and survived a harrowing attempt on her life.
The film will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2025, with distribution expected to follow shortly after.
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A fierce transformation for a fierce story
To embody Martin’s strength and grit, Sweeney underwent three and a half months of intense training, including:
- 1 hour of weightlifting in the morning
- 2 hours of kickboxing midday
- 1 hour of weightlifting at night
She gained over 30 pounds of muscle, going from a size 23 to 27 in jeans, and described the process as “crazy strong” and “amazing”. Her physical transformation stunned fans and co-stars alike, with many calling her “unrecognizable” in the first official photo.
“Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope,” Sweeney wrote on Instagram. “I’m honored to step into her shoes and share her powerful story with you all”.
Who was Christy Martin?
Christy Martin competed professionally from 1989 to 2012, earning the Super Welterweight title in 2009. She was:
- The first woman on the cover of Sports Illustrated
- The first female boxer to share a card with Mike Tyson
- Inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (2016) and the International Boxing Hall of Fame (2020)
Her life took a tragic turn in 2010, when her husband and trainer James Martin attempted to murder her. She survived multiple stab wounds and a gunshot, later becoming a vocal advocate for domestic violence survivors.
Cast and crew
Directed by David Michôd (’Animal Kingdom’, 'The King’) and co-written with Mirrah Foulkes, 'Christy’ also stars:
- Ben Foster
- Merritt Wever
- Ethan Embry
- Katy O’Brian
- Jess Gabor
- Chad L. Coleman
Sweeney also serves as producer through her company Fifty-Fifty Films, continuing her streak of hands-on creative roles.
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