Emmy-nominated actress Sydney Sweeney, 27, committed to substantial physical transformation to take on the role of legendary boxer Christy Martin in an upcoming biographical film.
Starring as Martin in the yet-to-be-titled biopic, Sweeney immersed herself fully in the character, undertaking a demanding training regimen designed to make her look and perform like a championship fighter. This dedicated effort included gaining more than 30 pounds and participating in boxing lessons to master every aspect of the role.
In an interview with W magazine, Sweeney shared her perspective on the intense preparation: “I loved it. I came onboard to play Christy, and I had about three and a half months of training. I started eating. I weight-trained in the morning for an hour, kickboxed midday for about two hours, and then weight-trained again at night for an hour.”
Sweeney’s dramatic change in physique was immediately apparent when she posted a photo on social media, offering a glimpse of her appearance as Martin.
During her professional career, Christy Martin was only approximately an inch and a half taller than Sweeney but primarily competed in weight divisions ranging from 147 to 168 pounds. A multi-time world champion and one of the pioneering women inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Martin’s legacy was something Sweeney was keen to honor in her portrayal.
Sweeney described the significant effects on her body: “My body was completely different. I didn’t fit in any of my clothes. I’m usually a size 23 in jeans, and I was wearing a size 27. My boobs got bigger. And my butt got huge. It was crazy! I was like, Oh my god But it was amazing: I was so strong, like crazy strong.”
Although her latest role features her as a boxer, Sweeney actually has a long-standing personal connection to combat sports.
Sweeney has been noted for numerous appearances at UFC events over the years, which aligns with her background. As a teenager, she trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for six years.
She reflected on her diverse interests: “My mom told me from a very young age to fall in love with as many things as possible. And so I did fall in love, again and again: I love sports. I love being outside. I was on the ski team, and I wakeboarded. I slalom ski on water. I was on the soccer team and the softball team.
“And then my parents got me into grappling, which is like wrestling, and kickboxing. I was the only girl at the dojo. I trained there from 13 until about 19. I fought all guys. I liked to think that if shit went down, I might be able to step up.”
While physically demanding, filming the biopic about Christy Martin`s life was a rewarding experience for Sweeney, who expressed her enthusiasm for the film`s eventual release.
Immediately following the conclusion of production, Sweeney faced the challenge of rapidly losing the weight and muscle mass she had gained for the role within a period of seven weeks, in preparation for reprising her familiar character, Cassie, in the popular HBO series *Euphoria*.
As of now, the release date for the biopic starring Sweeney remains unannounced. However, she is clearly proud of her work and hopes that her portrayal successfully honors Christy Martin`s remarkable career.
