Sydney Sweeney is making headlines for the deep personal connection she feels to her latest role. The ‘Euphoria’ star portrays legendary boxer Christy Martin in the upcoming biopic ‘Christy’. The film traces Martin’s rise from a small-town girl in West Virginia to one of the most feared fighters in the boxing world.
The story, however, is not only about victories in the ring. In November 2010, Martin’s life took a dark turn when her then-husband, James “Jim” Martin, stabbed and shot her in a shocking act of domestic violence. She survived, but the incident left scars; physical and emotional.
For Sweeney, bringing this story to the screen became more than just a role. “It’s a very personal issue that’s important to me,” she told ‘People’. “I hope that through Christy and her story, it can raise more awareness.”
The actress described how the film taught her about strength and resilience, both on-screen and off.
Sweeney also shared how she related to Martin’s career in boxing. “For Christy, the ring was her escape. It’s almost like being a caged animal inside that ring, but it’s where she feels the most free,” she said. “I feel the same way about acting. On set, everything else goes quiet. That’s my ring.”
The biopic directed by David Michod also explores Martin’s personal life. From her close relationship with her manager-turned-husband, played by Ben Foster, to the family and identity struggles that shaped her, the film balances the glory of the ring with the intensity of Martin’s real-life battles.
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“While Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring,” the synopsis notes, “her toughest battles unfold outside it; confronting family, identity, and a relationship that might become life or death.”
Sweeney, who also served as a producer on the film, said that working with Martin herself was a transformative experience. “Having her with us was really powerful. I’ve never had the person I’m portraying watch me, so you never know what they’re thinking. But I wanted her there the whole time, to study her, listen to her, and get her perspective.”
The actress also revealed that playing Christy changed her personally. “She taught me how to stand up for myself and feel stronger in both my personal life and work life. We both fight our own fights in different rings,” Sweeney said during a Q&A after a special screening in West Hollywood.