Sydney Sweeney is stepping into the ring and taking on a bold new role as she transforms into legendary boxer Christy Martin for the upcoming biopic, Christy.
The 27-year-old actress dramatically alters her appearance, shedding her bombshell image for a ferocious, brown-haired fighter’s edge. The film will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2025.
"Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I’m honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all."
The movie chronicles Martin’s rise in the 1990s as America’s most prominent female boxer. This fierce competitor broke barriers in a male-dominated sport and became the first woman to share a fight card with heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
It also delves into the harrowing chapter of her personal life, when in 2010, her then-husband and manager, James Martin (Jim), brutally attacked her in an attempted murder plot.
Christy was stabbed multiple times, shot in the torso, and left for dead, but survived. Following the attack, James was arrested and hospitalized after stabbing himself. He was later taken to Orange County Jail in Florida and charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
In 2012, Christy publicly came out as gay and later married her former sparring partner, Lisa Holewyne, in 2017.
To embody the role, Sweeney underwent a significant physical transformation, gaining 30 pounds and committing to an intense fitness regimen. She trained with an hour of weightlifting in the morning, two hours of kickboxing midday, and another hour of lifting at night.
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."
Speaking to W magazine’s Summer 2025 issue, Sweeney reflected on the physical shift, “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.”
Christy is directed by David Michôd, 52, and co-written with Mirrah Foulkes, 44.
The cast also features Ben Foster, 42, Merritt Wever, 44, Ethan Embry, 47, Katy O’Brian, 36, Jess Gabor, 28, and Chad L. Coleman, 57.