If you had any doubt Sydney Sweeney had range, her latest role will convince you. The actress has brought us several memorable performances throughout her career so far, from Euphoria to Eden, but her upcoming project might just be her most noteworthy. The actress is set to portray ‘90s female boxing champ and abuse survivor, Chrissy Martin, in an upcoming, still untitled, biopic.
Naturally, a role of this calibre calls for somewhat of a physical transformation, news of which came through unexpectedly, with paparazzi spotting Sweeney in character as Martin, complete with a curly brown wig and some notable muscle on her usually petite frame. The sighting prompted Sweeney to take to Instagram to share more photos of the project, writing, “Well the cats out of the bag thanks to some paps in bushes so here’s a little BTS from my film I'm working on right now.”
She continued, “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 honoured to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. More to come soon :)”
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Who is Chrissy Martin?
Martin was the most prolific female boxer of the ‘90s, having begun her career at just 21 and quickly rising through the ranks to become a household name. Outside of the ring, she became a celebrity in her own right, appearing in then-hit sitcom Roxeanne, and becoming the only female boxer to score a Sports Illustrated cover, to name just a few accolades.
But despite her successes, Martin’s personal life was fraught. Her manager-turned-husband, James Martin, abused her for much of their relationship, including attempting to kill her and shooting and stabbing her several times in 2010. He was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder in 2012, and is currently serving a 25-year sentence.
Martin’s story resonated with the film’s director, Davic Michôd, who told Deadline, “I have a history of making movies about damaged men and I’d been wanting to make a film about a woman with a ferocious energy inside her. When I came across the Christy Martin story two years ago I knew I’d found it. Her ferocity is intelligible and justifiable and audiences will crave it because of the circumstances she was forced to endure.”
Sweeney gushed similarly about Martin’s achievements, saying, “Christy Martin not only legitimized female boxing, she overcame gender stereotypes, and fought through emotional, physical, and financial abuse. I’m passionate about the fighting world, Christy’s story shines a light on her incredible rise to the top while showing the struggles of fame behind the curtains. I feel compelled to tell a story about a woman who faced so much adversity and didn’t allow it to defeat her. It’s powerful, and emotional.”
Who else is attached to the Chrissy Martin boxing biopic?
Sweeney will be joined by actors Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, Ethan Embry and Katy O’Brian, though details of their roles remain under wraps. We'll keep you updated as we know more.
