Sydney Sweeney’s ‘boobs received greater’ in beautiful transformation into boxing icon for movie
Sydney Sweeney says her “boobs got bigger” and “butt got huge” as she looks unrecognisable in a new film about boxing icon Christy Martin’s astonishing life and her ex-husband’s murder attempt
Sydney Sweeney takes on the role of boxing icon Christy Martin in a new biopic about the fighter’s astonishing life and near-death experience at the hands of her ex-husband.
The movie, released in the UK today, (Friday, November 28), sees the Hollywood superstar play the ring legend, who once held the WBC super welterweight title, fought on a Mike Tyson undercard and was the first female boxer to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Known as ‘The Coal Miner’s Daughter’, Martin had an impressive run of 35 undefeated matches, before her life spiralled due to drug addiction and horrific domestic abuse. Eventually she split from her deranged former husband Jim Martin, who tried to murder her – a chilling episode that is a key plot point in the film featuring Sweeney.
Speaking to W Magazine, Sydney opened up on the “crazy” changes her body went through in her preparation for filming, revealing that the training for the role as the boxing trailblazer led her to gain 30lb (13.7kg).
The 28-year-old said: “I loved it. I came on board to play Christy, and I had about three and a half months of training. I started eating. I weight trained in the morning for an hour, kick boxed midday for about two hours, and then weight trained again at night for an hour.
“My body was completely different. 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.”
Sweeney, who shot to stardom in the HBO drama series Euphoria and later appeared in the superhero flick Madame Web, drama The White Lotus and hit romcom Anyone But You, is known for her stunning looks and daring red carpet outfits, including the see-through dress she wore for Variety’s 2025 Power of Women event.
The actress said making the new film was “the most impactful project of my life” – little surprise given the horrors boxer Martin endured out of the ring.
In a chat about the film, Martin said: “It is not a boxing movie. This is the underdog story. It’s about domestic violence, sexuality and sexual abuse.
“I’m a coal miner’s daughter from a small town and no one expected I would make it. And at the same time, I had all these other things happening in my life.”
On November 23, 2010, following a row in their Apopka, Florida home, Martin was stabbed multiple times and shot in the torso by her then 66-year-old spouse, who left her for dead.
Despite numerous stab wounds and a bullet perilously close to her heart, the pugilist was rescued from her monstrous partner by a good Samaritan who rushed her to hospital after she managed to drag herself outside.
Her assailant went on the run for a week before stabbing himself and being arrested by the police. After receiving medical attention, he was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
In April 2012, he was convicted of attempted second-degree murder and handed a 25-year prison sentence.
Now aged 57, Martin is married to former boxing adversary Lisa Holewyne, a women’s boxing hall of famer herself.
Discussing her tumultuous personal life, Martin opened up about how her husband used to “control every move” she made, which led her to cocaine use. She confessed: “My husband was supplying me with coke and I was snorting it.
“Before I even got out of bed in the morning, he would bring a line to me. If I complained I was tired after the gym, he would crush up a line before I had the chance to take my gloves off.
“I’m lucky I didn’t die. I looked in the mirror one night and thought, you look like an addict.”
Sweeney was barely recognisable when seen shooting on location in North Carolina – the blonde bombshell’s iconic looks ditched in order to portray the fighter. The megastar said on Instagram: “I am so deeply proud of this movie.
“Proud of the film David made. Proud of the story we told. Proud to represent someone as strong and resilient as Christy Martin. This experience has been one of the greatest honours of my life.
“This film stands for survival, courage, and hope. through our campaigns, we’ve helped raise awareness for so many affected by domestic violence. We all signed on to this film with the belief that Christy’s story could save lives.
“Thank you to everyone who saw, felt, and believed and will believe in this story for years to come. If Christy gave even one woman the courage to take her first step toward safety, then we will have succeeded.
“So yes I’m proud. Why? Because we don’t always just make art for numbers, we make it for impact. And Christy has been the most impactful project of my life. Thank you Christy. I love you.”
Sweeney even said she would be up for a charity boxing bout. The Washington-born star told Sportscasting: “There was a moment in the middle of filming where I was like, ‘Should I give it all up and fight because I love this?’
“Christy said sign me up so this isn’t as hypothetical as you actually think it is. Yeah, I’d totally do a charity bout, that’d be so sick.”
When asked about her potential opponent, Sweeney responded: “It’s a surprise, you’ll have to wait, I’m serious. You’ve got to stay tuned for the pay-per-view, and you’ll see it.”
Despite not appearing like a seasoned fighter, Sweeney has disclosed she spent much of her youth honing her kickboxing and grappling skills, before admitting boxing was an entirely different challenge.
Speaking on Good Morning America, she said: “For about two-and-a-half months, I would weight train in the morning for an hour, box three hours in the middle of the day and then another hour of weight training at night.
“I put on 35 pounds and it was hard. I started losing weight once I upped my boxing time and had to find that balance. I was just continually pounding more and more protein shakes.
“I loved it. I worked hardest on that left hook and I think what would get me through a fight is that I can take a punch. I wouldn’t quit.”
Christy is in UK and Irish cinemas from November 28.
