Sydney Sweeney has stunned audiences with her striking physical transformation in the debut trailer for the upcoming biopic Christy.
The Euphoria star, who turns 28 on Friday, takes on the challenging role of boxing icon Christy Martin, widely recognized as a trailblazer in women’s boxing. To fully embody Martin’s grit and resilience, Sweeney gained 30 pounds, showcasing a side of herself fans have never witnessed before.
The trailer, set against Stevie Nicks’s classic Edge of Seventeen, reveals raw and unflinching scenes of Martin’s rise to prominence. With a bulked-up frame, bruises, and disheveled appearance, Sweeney delivers a gritty portrayal that captures both the fighter’s triumphs and her private battles. From sporting a short brunette mullet in the film’s early chapters to adopting various hairstyles throughout, her physical reinvention is remarkable.
Sharing the screen with Ben Foster, who plays Martin’s trainer and later husband Jim, the film delves into the complexities of Christy’s life beyond the ring. It explores strained family relationships, questions of identity, and a turbulent marriage that turns violent, underscored by Jim’s chilling threat: “If you leave me, I’ll kill you.”
Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film has already received glowing praise for its authenticity and intensity. In interviews, Sweeney admitted she loved the physical and emotional challenge, training three times daily with boxing coaches while following a calorie-heavy diet of fast food, milkshakes, and protein shakes to bulk up.
Appearing alongside the real Christy Martin at TIFF, Sweeney called the experience “an honor” and expressed pride in bringing such a powerful story to the screen. Christy is set for theatrical release on November 7.