For her gritty new biopic playing boxer Christy Martin the Hollywood starlet undergoes a stunning transformation, whereas Sydney Sweeney is more frequently seen posing head-first on the red carpet.
Sydney Sweeney’s latest film role is unlike anything she’s ever done before. In sports drama Christy, she revisits her old kickboxing days – she practised the martial art while growing up – as she transforms into West Virginia boxing star Christy Martin.
The real Christy, who is now 57 and retired, had a turbulent personal life as well as a successful athletic career after being sexually abused as a child and facing her parents’ disapproval when she admitted she was a lesbian. Both of her experiences were remarkable.
Euphoria star Sydney, 28, who’s also set to play the lead in a screen adaptation of hit novel The Housemaid this December, discusses the blood, sweat and tears – and weight gain – involved in filming her latest movie, as she ditches her trademark glamour and goes full-on “method” for a distinctly grittier look.
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What preparation did it take for you to achieve Christy Martin’s level of combat?
It took some hard work for the physical transformation. I was in the gym for three months before shooting, which I loved because, having done kickboxing before, I was kind of looking for an excuse to go back. It was fun for me, but it was something I had to give up when I started on Euphoria [the hit TV drama whose cast she joined in 2019].
Were you prohibited from kickboxing and acting?
I ain’t was. However, I’ve never been as strong as I did when I trained for this. It was a thrill for me to be able to play a woman who was as inspiring as Christy and achieve that kind of physical fitness. She is truly amazing, the more I trained and learned more about her.
In this movie, you appear so completely different. Do you have any objections to that?
No, I was excited to do it. I wanted desperately to do Christy justice and to make her proud. I really love to play characters that I can disappear into and just totally transform. I threw myself into every aspect of this character. I built a gym in my house. I had a professional boxing trainer, a weight trainer and a nutritionist. I was working hard every day to get where I needed to be physically.
You were a result of that transformation, gaining 35 pounds. Was that challenging?
It was actually only a component of the process. Building muscle, drinking plenty of protein shakes, and eating less calories were all involved. There was a lot of it. I was constantly feeling sick. That’s for sure, it’s much harder to lose than it was to put on. However, once I started boxing, my weight would drop even with the high calorie intake and eating. It was then just a matter of restoring that balance.
As a producer, you played a significant role in the development of this movie. What about it made you feel appealing?
I just found the incredible resilience of this woman in both the ring and the locker room inspiring. It is incredible what she accomplished as a boxer and how she opened the door for so many women. She is just as inspiring because she had to work that way in her personal life at the time. I began to relate to Christy more as I learned more about her story. Girls everywhere look to her as inspiration.
There are a lot of emotional scenes, but the physical aspect is so much of the focus…
Yeah, and they were both very different processes. The physical stuff was fun. I could train and feel prepared. But then some days it was about going from that to a big emotional scene. It was a different challenge. We were so lucky to have Christy there with us. I was able to talk to her a lot and figure out what her mindsetwas in those moments. It was all about feeling the moment, working with the script and just going for it. That’s the way I like to work.
The movie’s fight scenes are brutal. Have you ever been physically attacked?
I did. What you see in the film is actually me getting hit and making contact with the other girl in the ring.I didn’t want it to not feel real. It had to feel like it was really Christy fighting in there, with all the emotion she has. Some of the girls I was in the ring with were stunt people, but we also had some real fighters. I told them to go full-force. I was like, ‘Hit me. I want you to hit me!’” I got concussion one time. Other than that,it was just a few bruises and bloody noses.
You mentioned how kicking kickboxing helped you. Have you ever competed?
I once engaged in some competition. Some of the guys I fought were defeated. I was incredibly interested in kickboxing, but it’s getting harder to do it with this job. It is forbidden. With this job, it’s difficult for me to get back in the ring in the real world. Although it’s a fun idea, I haven’t received any offers yet.
What have you learned from playing this amazing woman?
So much. This has been a life-changing experience for me in such a positive way. Playing Christy and getting to know her has taught me how to stand up for myself and what I need to do to feel stronger in my work life as well as my personal life. It’s made me feel ready to stand up for the people in my life and to always be there for them. It’s also made me remember just how much I love boxing.
From November 28 to November 28 in some select UK cinemas, Christy will be available.
