Sydney Sweeney to star as boxing legend Christy Martin
Sydney Sweeney is taking the entertainment industry by storm. The "Euphoria" star already has several exciting roles under her belt. She recently portrayed a nun in "Immaculate." Now she's stepping into a dramatic tale of a boxing athlete.
Though Sydney Sweeney's film and TV career dates back to 2009, she came into the spotlight thanks to two productions from 2021 and 2022. We're talking about "The White Lotus" and "Euphoria," both series produced by HBO Max. These roles catapulted Sydney to one of the hottest names in Hollywood, and she’s been getting increasingly exciting offers. She starred in the comedy "Anyone But You" with Glen Powell (whose popularity skyrocketed thanks to "Top Gun: Maverick"), was acclaimed for her role in "Reality," and recently played a nun in "Immaculate" and an upcoming superhero in "Madame Web."
Sydney is also set to star in the famous "Barbarella" soon. The original, released 56 years ago, caused quite a scandal. Her next significant role comes from director David Michod. She will portray Christy Martin, an award-winning boxer who miraculously survived an attack by her husband.
Sydney Sweeney as the "female Rocky"
The "Euphoria" star faces quite a challenge. Who knows, maybe this role will earn her an Oscar nomination. As we know, the Academy loves strong stories, especially biographical ones. In the yet-untitled film, Sydney will play Christy Martin, an American boxer considered one of the biggest stars in American women's boxing history.
Martin began her career in combat sports at the age of 21. Her charisma drew more people to boxing. She became such a star that she was the first female boxer to appear on the "Sports Illustrated" cover and had guest spots in several TV productions.
Her sports career saw excellent results; out of 59 fights, she won 49 (32 by knockout) and had three draws. It was said that her success was heavily influenced by her manager and later husband, James V. Martin. The much older man controlled her career. As it later turned out, he was abusive, turning Christy’s personal life into a living hell.
Without a doubt, this personal part of her story will take up a large portion of the film. Martin lived in a toxic relationship, culminating in an attempted murder. In November 2010, her husband attacked her, stabbing her multiple times before shooting her in the chest. She miraculously survived, escaping their home at the last moment. A few days later, James attempted suicide but was caught by the police. In 2012, he was charged with attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The film will indeed address Christy’s sexual orientation. She is a lesbian, which she didn’t want to disclose to her surroundings years ago. However, her husband knew about her actual orientation and used it to manipulate Martin.
“Christy's story isn't a light one, it's physically and emotionally demanding, there's a lot of weight to carry. But I love challenging myself,” Sweeney said about her role some time ago. As a teenager, she trained in kickboxing, among other things. “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,” she commented.
