Sydney Sweeney underwent a major physical transformation to portray boxer Christy Martin in an upcoming biopic. In a recent interview with W Magazine, Sweeney revealed that she gained more than 30 pounds and followed a rigorous training schedule for three and a half months to prepare for the role.
“I came onboard to play Christy, and I had about three and a half months of training,” Sweeney said. “I started eating more. I weight-trained in the morning for an hour, kickboxed for about two hours midday, and then weight-trained again at night for another hour.”
The actor noted how drastically her body changed during this period. “My body was completely different,” she explained. “I didn’t fit into any of my clothes. I usually wear size 23 jeans, but I was wearing size 27. My breasts got bigger, and my butt got huge. It was crazy! I was like, ‘Oh my god.’”
Despite the dramatic change, Sweeney said she enjoyed the process. “It was amazing. I felt so strong, like really strong.”
Sweeney stars as Christy Martin in the untitled sports biopic directed by David Michod, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mirrah Foulkes. The film will depict Martin’s rise as one of America’s most famous female boxers during the 1990s.
Christy Martin had a professional boxing career from 1989 to 2012 and won the super welterweight world championship in 2009. In 2010, she survived a violent attack by her husband, James Martin, who stabbed and shot her at their Florida home. He was later convicted of attempted second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
In October 2024, Sweeney posted photos on Instagram showing her transformation into Martin. She wrote, “Over the past few months, I’ve been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman — a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring. Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope. I’m honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. More to come soon 🙂 CHRISTY MARTIN.”
The cast also includes Ben Foster as James Martin, Merritt Weaver, Katy O’Brien, Ethan Embry, Jess Gabor, Chad L. Coleman, and Tony Cavalero. The movie is produced by Anonymous Content, Black Bear, Fifty-Fifty Films, Votiv, and Yoki Inc.
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