Sydney Sweeney Goes the Distance: Inside the Gritty Transformation Behind Christy

From rom-com darling to hardened ring warrior, Sweeney steps into the boots of trailblazing boxer Christy Martin in a powerful biopic that punches above its weight.

She’s done horror, comedy, thriller, and action — now Sydney Sweeney is trading stilettos for gloves in the upcoming biographical sports drama Christy, based on the extraordinary life of boxer Christy Martin.

At the film’s debut during the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025, Sweeney walked the red carpet alongside Martin and delivered a performance that’s being hailed as a full-throated commitment to a woman who re-wrote the rules in and out of the ring.

Martin, once dubbed “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” for her West Virginia origins, became one of the most recognisable female fighters of the 1990s — winning titles, breaking barriers, and enduring immense personal struggles behind the scenes. Sweeney, who also serves as a producer on the film, says she was drawn to Martin’s story not just because it offered a new challenge, but because it demanded to be told. “Christy’s story is just absolutely phenomenal,” Sweeney said. “Even if I wasn’t going to act in it, I wanted to be part of it in some capacity — to bring it to the screen and raise awareness for her story and how incredible of an advocate and role model she is.”

On the physical side, Sweeney went all-in: months of boxing training, intense conditioning, and a dramatic transformation — she gained nearly 30 pounds to fully embody Martin. She explained that “every single fight you see in the film is the exact same fight that she had in real life — every combination, every move is authentic.”

When Martin finally watched the completed film, Sweeney recalls being deeply moved by her reaction. The real-life boxer told her, “I felt like you went back in time and were there during these moments in my life because I don’t know how else someone would have known that I talk like that, walk like that, move like that.”

After this transformative experience, Sweeney reflected on her evolving career — from Euphoria to Anyone But You and now Christy. “I’m always looking for something completely new,” she said with a smile. “It’s exciting to challenge myself, so I look for roles that push me in new ways or excite me differently.”

Christy is set to release in theatres on November 7, 2025 — marking what many are calling Sydney Sweeney’s most daring and physically demanding role yet.

With its mix of raw emotion, powerful storytelling, and a star performance from Sydney Sweeney, Christy looks poised to pack a punch as one of the year’s most compelling biopics.