Sydney Sweeney endured real concussions and bloody noses while filming her latest role as trailblazing boxer Christy Martin in the new biopic Christy. The 28-year-old actress revealed that every fight scene in David Michôd's film featured genuine physical contact, with one particular bout against a professional boxer playing Laila Ali leaving her with a concussion.
The Physical Demands of Portraying a Champion
Sweeney gained two-and-a-half stone to match Martin's fighting weight of 135 to 137 pounds, sharing her high-calorie diet of Uncrustables frozen jam sandwiches with co-star Ben Foster, who also bulked up to play Martin's manipulative husband and boxing promoter Jim. Foster recalled Sweeney's surprise at his physical transformation, mistaking his newly acquired double chin for a prosthetic.
The filming process proved intensely physical, with director Michôd describing the fight sequences as "a negotiation between Sydney and the stunt performers" rather than something he heavily controlled. Sweeney embraced the challenge, declaring she truly "became a fighter" during production and finding the experience exhilarating despite the physical toll.
Beyond the Ring: Exploring Abuse and Identity
While Sweeney's physical transformation and boxing prowess generate headlines, Christy primarily serves as a serious examination of an abusive relationship. Martin's story involves coercive control from her husband Jim, with the film exploring why victims often remain in dangerous situations.
Michôd became fascinated with Martin's complexity after discovering her story through the Netflix documentary Untold: Deal With the Devil. He described the real Martin as "incredibly gentle and vulnerable" despite her tough public persona as a "pugnacious, brawling, trash-talking, supreme athlete".
Sweeney delivers a nuanced performance that balances Martin's early sympathetic qualities as a gay woman from West Virginia with her later controversial public persona. After being signed by promoter Don King and achieving celebrity status, Martin publicly rejected feminism, made homophobic comments about other boxers, and positioned herself as a traditional homemaker.
Navigating Personal and Professional Controversies
The film's themes of public perception resonate with Sweeney's own experiences with media scrutiny. The actress recently faced controversy over an American Eagle jeans advertisement that some interpreted as referencing white supremacy, following earlier criticism about MAGA-style caps at her mother's birthday party.
"I can't control how others perceive me," Sweeney stated when addressing these incidents. "I'm always just me. But it's what other people put on me that's uncontrollable."
She sees parallels between Martin's experience and her own, noting that both women fight "within our own ring and outside our ring" while navigating public misunderstanding and complicated relationships.
Since completing Christy, Sweeney immediately began filming the third season of HBO's Euphoria, requiring her to lose the weight she'd gained for the boxing role. She described the physical transition as "a mental challenge and almost a physical withdrawal" from the intense training regimen.
The film blends sports biopic elements with darker tones as it explores Jim's escalating abuse. Foster found portraying the manipulative husband psychologically challenging, describing the character's controlling behaviour as stemming from fragility and insecurity.
Christy premiered at the London Film Festival and will be released in UK and Irish cinemas on 28 November, with Sweeney emphasising that her primary goal was to honour Martin's story rather than pursue awards recognition.
