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Sydney Sweeney unrecognizable for Christy Martin biopic: See transformation
Sydney Sweeney unrecognizable for Christy Martin biopic: See transformation "Sydney trained her butt off to play the part," David Michôd, the biopic's director, told W Magazine.
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Sydney Sweeney arrives at the 2025 Met Gala in dazzling black gown
Sydney Sweeney graces the Met Gala red carpet in a dazzling black gown.
Sydney Sweeney underwent a major transformation and put on almost 30 pounds in preparation for, and during, the filming of her role in the upcoming biopic on trailblazing female boxer Christy Martin.
'My body was completely different," Sweeney said in a recent interview with W Magazine, for which she was the cover star. "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."
The actor said she has no regrets and "loved it."
'I came onboard to play Christy, and I had about three and a half months of training," the "Anyone but You" film star said, per the magazine. "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.'
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Sydney Sweeney 'trained her butt off'
The film's director, David Michôd, revealed the actor gained more than 30 pounds to play the athlete, who some say put female boxing on the map in the '90s.
"Sydney trained her butt off to play the part," Michôd told the magazine. "The beauty of Sydney is that she turned up to work every day with her tail wagging, ready to go. No matter how tough it was, she was like a ray of sunshine."
The revelation comes a few months after the 27-year-old "Euphoria" star hit back on Instagram against a series of negative comments about paparazzi photos of her in a bikini.
Earlier, as filming wrapped up, Sweeney shared photos of herself dressed as Martin on social media with the caption: '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. 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. more to come soon.'
In the photos, Sweeney could be seen looking bulkier, while also wearing brown contact lenses and a brunette wig with a mullet-like hairstyle.
What is the film about?
The untitled biopic, co-written by Michôd and Mirrah Foulkes, follows Martin's journey as the first breakout star in U.S. female boxing. The film will trace Martin's rise to fame and the abuse she faced at the hands of her then-husband, who attempted to murder her.
'Our film is a wild mix of inspiring underdog sports-world story and personal saga," Michôd told W Magazine of the project.
Black Bear Pictures, the film's production company, described the film as the "unbelievable true story of formidable Christy Martin, who rose to fame as America's most successful female boxer in the 1990s."
When filming on the project wrapped in November, Sweeney wrote on Instagram that it had "been one of the most emotional, transformative experiences of my life."
"This story is so much bigger than just a film," she wrote. "It's a testament to resilience, survival, and finding the strength to keep fighting. I can't wait for you all to see it — not only because I'm proud of the transformation and the work I've poured into it, but because Christy's story deserves to be told."
While promotions for the film, expected to release later this year, are yet to kick off, the actor-director duo were spotted during the International Boxing Hall of Fame's annual Parade of Champions held over the weekend in Canastota, New York, where Sweeney was the grand marshal.
Who is Christy Martin?
Christy Martin is one of the most prominent figures in the history of boxing. Hailing from West Virginia, Martin, the daughter of a coal miner, went on to become the first woman signed to a promotional contract by boxing promoter Don King and the first female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
She competed from 1989 to the mid-2010s and held the World Boxing Council female super welterweight title in 2009. In 2020, Martin was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Martin's life was also affected by personal tragedy. In 2010, she was stabbed, shot and left for dead by her then-husband of 19 years, James Martin. The two married when she was only 24 and he was 49, according to an ESPN profile. He was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison nearly two years later.
In 2017, Christy Martin remarried to former boxing rival Lisa Holewyne.
"Christy tackled personal demons, toxic relationships, and an attempt on her life, proving that a fighter's hardest won victories aren't always in the ring," Black Bear Pictures said.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
