Sydney Sweeney's 'Christy' transformation details: How actress became boxer Christy Martin in extreme movie makeover

Teddy Ricketson

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Sydney Sweeney's 'Christy' transformation details: How actress became boxer Christy Martin in extreme movie makeover image

Sports biopics are becoming a trend in filmmaking. Directors, producers and actors want to take a story that people may or may not be familiar with and put it on the big screen to make sure the subject's story is told to the masses. 

The latest installment of this movement involves Sydney Sweeney starring in the titular role of Christy Martin in the biopic 'Christy." It follows the story of the retired boxer from her rise in the profession to her marriage to her manager to her marriage falling apart and the end of her career. 

"Christy" releases in theaters on Friday, Nov. 7. Sweeney, known for her blonde hair, went through a transformation into Martin that involved getting into boxing shape, and becoming brunette. 

Here is more on Sweeney's transformation into Martin.

MORE: How Dwayne Johnson transformed his body for "The Smashing Machine"

Sydney Sweeney as Christy Martin transformation

Sweeney said in an interview that she had about two and a half months to train and get into boxing shape for the role. The actress said that in the process, that she gained 35 pounds.

"It was so much fun though, because I grew up in Idaho with my family, and my grandma's my neighbor, and I turned her shed into my 'Rocky' gym," Sweeney told Good Morning America. "I put flooring in and boxing bags, and I brought my trainers up there and had a boxing coach and a weight trainer. And every single day I would weight train in the morning and then box for like two or three hours per day."

The real-life Martin accompanied Sweeney on set, giving the actress insight as she masqueraded as a pugilist in front of flickering cameras.

"It was so fun having her there, especially during the fighting scenes," Sweeney said. "I could hear her at the bottom of the ring going, 'Hit her with a left hook!' Like, 'You know what I'm going to do, Christy.'"

Sweeney seemed to rejoice in the process of bulking up and tightening up her hands of stone. In fact, Sweeney even suggested that a change of career isn't out of the realm of possibility — assuming she can take a punch, of course.

"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?" Sweeney told Sportscasting.

Who is Christy Martin?

Martin is a former American boxer. She was active from 1989-2012 and became the first female boxer elected to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016. When the International Boxing Hall of Fame began inducting women, she was inducted in 2020, the first year that women were eligible for the ballot.

Martin was a great boxer, but her story took a twist when she married her manager in 1991. She was 22 while her manager was 41. When she retired, Martin held a record of 49-7-3 with 31 wins by knockout. She was also the first woman to ever sign with well-known boxing promoter Don King. 

'Christy' cast

  • Sydney Sweeney -- Christy Martin
  • Ben Foster -- Jim Martin
  • Merritt Weaver -- Joyce Salters
  • Jess Gabor -- Rosie
  • Ethan Embry -- Johnny Salters
  • James Self -- Coach
  • Bill Kelly -- Larry Carrier
  • Chad L. Colman -- Don King
  • Miles Mussenden -- Richard Christmas
  • Walter 'Buddy' Carter -- Walt
  • Coleman Pedigo -- Randy Salters

Sydney Sweeney movies

  • "Heroes" -- 1 episode, 2009
  • "Criminal Minds" -- 1 episode, 2009
  • "Grey's Anatomy" -- 1 episode, 2014
  • "The Middle" -- 1 episode, 2017
  • "Pretty Little Liars" -- 1 episode, 2017
  • "The Handmaid's Tale" -- 7 episodes, 2018
  • "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" -- 2019
  • "The White Lotus" -- 6 episodes, 2021
  • "Euphoria" -- 16 episodes, 2019-2022
  • "Anyone but you" -- 2023
  • "Madame Web" -- 2024
  • "Immaculate" -- 2024
  • "Eden" -- 2024
  • "Echo Valley" -- 2025
  • "Christy" -- 2025
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