What's Inside?
- Sydney Sweeney transforms into Christy Martin, capturing the boxer’s emotional depth, strength, and the unseen battles behind her success.
- Director David Michôd’s sensitive approach avoids graphic violence, portraying trauma through expressions and subtle off-screen storytelling.
- Christy Martin praises Sweeney’s dedication, calling her performance “a whole ’nother level of ‘wow’” for its authenticity and intensity.
When Christy hit theaters, audiences expected a powerful sports drama. What they got was much more—an unflinching look into the life of boxing icon Christy Martin, brought to life by Sydney Sweeney with astonishing depth and vulnerability. Sweeney, known for her emotionally charged performances, delivers one of her most transformative roles yet, embodying a woman whose fight went far beyond the boxing ring. Alongside Katy O’Brian, who portrays Lisa Holewyne—Christy’s one-time rival and later wife—the film peels back layers of trauma, courage, and redemption.
Sydney Sweeney Explains the Power Behind Christy’s Emotional Moments
In an interview with ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley, Sydney Sweeney reflected on one of the film’s most poignant scenes—when Christy gets into a car, apologizes for the blood on the seat, and shows a rare mix of shame and selflessness. For Sweeney, that simple line spoke volumes about the woman she was portraying.
“It was one of those moments where, even though everything’s happening to her, she’s still thinking of others. She’s still aware of maybe the burden that she’s bringing on somebody else instead of just truly thinking of herself. But that scene was really interesting. We were at the very end of our day, we had no time. We shot that scene in five or seven minutes. It was one take; we don’t have any more time. And it’s one of my favorite shots as well.”
That moment, filmed in under ten minutes, reveals the kind of instinctive acting that has made Sweeney one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents. Her portrayal of Christy isn’t about imitation—it’s about inhabiting the quiet pain and strength of a woman who survived unimaginable circumstances.
Meanwhile, Katy O’Brian, who shares screen time as Christy’s supportive partner Lisa Holewyne, praised how director David Michôd handled the film’s most difficult scenes. Referring to the brutal confrontation between Christy and her abusive husband, Jim Martin (played by Ben Foster), O’Brian said she appreciated the restraint shown on screen.
“I wasn’t. I’m glad I wasn’t. I assume, like most people, I don’t enjoy watching violence against women. I’d rather not. One thing that I really loved about how David handled that was so much of it was in expressions. You didn’t really see the knife going in and in and in. I think that that could feel very… like an additional violation in a way. Then there were also some other scenes of violence where you see it just happens behind the scene, off camera. I think that that is really important to show, that this is what happens in people’s lives as well. They might, in public or in day-to-day life, seem healthy, like they have a normal relationship, and what happens that you don’t see is the part that’s really traumatic. And a lot of that happened completely off-screen, which for me was very powerful. I think it was a lot more tasteful for him to do it that way.”
The subtlety of that approach not only amplifies the realism but also honors the true story behind Christy Martin’s resilience. Instead of exploiting her trauma, the film portrays it with dignity and empathy—qualities that elevate Christy beyond the realm of a traditional sports biopic.
Sydney Sweeney’s Unflinching Commitment to Christy Martin’s Legacy
For Sydney Sweeney, preparing to play Christy was a deeply personal challenge. A former kickboxer and grappler herself, she returned to combat sports training to embody the legendary fighter’s intensity. “I started when I was 12, and I trained up until I was 19 [or] 20, so I’d been hit before,” Sweeney shared, explaining how her martial arts background helped her step into the boxer’s shoes.
Her dedication went far beyond the gym. She immersed herself in Martin’s autobiography, watched documentaries, and studied old fight footage. The actress even gained 35 pounds to match Martin’s physicality, turning her grandmother’s garage into a makeshift boxing gym. Christy Martin herself was blown away by the result. “If you see anybody do that, it’s one thing. But you see Sydney Sweeney doing that? It was a whole ’nother level of ‘wow,’” she said, expressing admiration for the actress’s authenticity and discipline.
Sweeney admitted that before taking the role, she hadn’t known the full extent of Martin’s struggles. But once she learned the story, she felt a duty to tell it right. “I knew that I had to be a part of making sure that every single person knew who Christy Martin was,” she explained, underlining her commitment to bringing Martin’s legacy to a wider audience.
At 57, Christy Martin views the film not just as a chronicle of her career, but as a message of hope for anyone trapped in silence. “It could be anyone’s life, but I was fortunate enough that I can share my life and just help other women that are in tough situations have a path to get out of their domestic violence situation,” she said.
Whether or not Sweeney’s performance earns her an Oscar nomination, Christy stands as one of the most emotionally raw portrayals of the year—a story that transcends boxing to explore survival, courage, and self-worth. With its restrained storytelling and powerhouse performances from Sweeney and O’Brian, Christy reminds audiences that the greatest fights are not always in the ring, but within the human spirit itself.
