Hollywood star Sydney Sweeney has opened up about the intensive physical transformation she underwent to portray boxing legend Christy Martin in the new biopic Christy.
The Euphoria actress has revealed that she gained 30 pounds and trained relentlessly to step into the ring, with her surprising diet including a significant amount of fast food.
During a Q&A at the Toronto International Film Festival, Sweeney shed light on the rigorous preparation. “I trained for two or three months before [filming],” she said. “I had a boxing coach, I had weight trainers, I had nutritionists. I trained three times a day, every day.”
The film's director, David Michôd, playfully interjected during her account, adding, “And there was a lot of Chick-fil-A.” Sweeney agreed, laughing, “A lot of Chick-fil-A, a lot. A lot of Smucker's, a lot of milkshakes, a lot of protein shakes.”
Despite the unconventional diet, she emphasised how embodying the powerful boxer made her feel “even stronger” and was “truly inspiring.”
The film, Christy, follows the true story of Christy Martin, nicknamed the “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and her rise to fame in the 1990s as one of the most recognisable female boxers. The film delves into the complexities of her personal life, including her abusive and ultimately violent relationship with her former husband and trainer, Jim Martin (played by Ben Foster), who attempted to murder her in 2010.
The actress shared an emotional moment with the boxing champion on stage at the Princess of Wales Theatre, tearing up as she thanked Martin for sharing her story. “You’re so inspirational, so being able to have her by my side during this process was a dream,” Sweeney said.
Martin praised Sweeney for her authentic portrayal, telling the audience that the actress successfully captured both her aggressive in-ring persona and her naturally shy and reserved personality outside the ring.
Christy will hit the big screen across the UK and Ireland on 28th November, with the UK premiere being at the 69th BFI Film Festival on the 17th October.
