Sydney Sweeney bulks up to play ’90s boxing star Christy Martin

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of domestic violence.

Sydney Sweeney’s Instagram grid just recently went viral when she posted a photo of her butt on a boat with the caption: “I think they call it a thirst trap.” Social media was in a bind, and within five seconds, every woman and her boyfriend were arguing about the response to the fire in the comments section. Last week, Sweeney made another sensational IG post, looking unrecognizable while filming another role: as reported Cutoutour girl is now “beaten”.

Sweeney shared the photos, saying that the paparazzi had already published footage from the film she was currently filming. She said she is working on an as-yet-untitled biopic about famous female boxer Christy Martin, which involves building muscle mass.

In the post, Sweeney wrote that she was “immersed in learning to bring the story of an incredible woman to life.” She added that Martin, who competed in the 1990s and is considered a pioneer for women in boxing, was “a true champion who fought both in and out of the ring. Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength and hope, and I am honored to step into her shoes and share her powerful story with you all.”

According to DeadlineDavid Michaud, famous animal kingdomwill direct the biopic. Sweeney, of course, rose to fame playing troubled teen Cassie in Euphoria and snarky rich girl Olivia Mossbacher in season one White Lotus.

She has since starred in the hit romantic comedy. Anyone but you and plunged into more gritty horror film roles Irreproachable and American crime drama Reality.

Here’s everything we know about Sydney Sweeney’s casting as Christy Martin.

Christy Martin is credited with popularizing women’s boxing. She was the first female athlete to sign with legendary promoter Don King and remained undefeated for ten years, but her life outside the ring was marred by violence.

Boxing career of Christy Martin

In 1991, Martin began training professionally after winning the amateur mixed rounds in West Virginia. According to New York Times she teamed up with a trainer named Jim Martin and became engaged to him a year later.

There was no plan for Martina to succeed as a female boxer. She said New York Times: “I just kept fighting. I just kept growing.” In 1996, she defeated boxer Deirdre Gogarty; the fight was shown on Showtime and attracted attention; she got a spot in Sports Illustrated that sold out around the world and she became famous. This experience was unexpected. “I’m walking past the Versace store and these people who worked there came out and asked me for my autograph,” she said of walking down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills after the fight. “It was crazy to me.”

What happened to Christy Martin?

However, Christie never enjoyed fame, largely because behind the scenes her husband Jim Martin abused her emotionally, physically and financially. “He told me that the boxing world hated me, that my family hated me, that I had no fans. Athletes have big egos, but they are fragile. It didn’t take him long to break me,” she told The New York Times. This situation continued for 20 years, and she found solace in the ring. But Jim Martin controlled her, threatening to reveal her secret. When they first trained together, Martin told Jim that she was gay, but he chose to ignore it at the time.

In 2010, Christy Martin’s career was coming to an end, and the pressure that the secret had put on her was easing. She decided to leave her husband when she reunited with her ex-girlfriend.

She was still living with her husband in Florida when she overheard him on the phone telling someone that he was leaving him for a woman. He was sharpening a knife. Jim then entered the bedroom and stabbed her several times before shooting her with his pink-handled 9mm pistol.

Despite her injuries, Martin escaped and survived, and the story received widespread attention. Just two years later, Jim Martin was sentenced to 25 years in prison, and the world learned her secret. “Jim convinced me that if the world found out I was gay, I would lose everything, and in fact, the exact opposite happened,” she told The New York Times. “I’m comfortable in my own skin. I don’t need to hide. I am who I am.”

In 2017, Christy Martin married her former sparring partner Lisa Holevin. In 2020, she was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. She now runs a boxing promotion company and charity called Champions Christie. This non-profit organization helps victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Is this a new era for Sydney Sweeney?

Over the years, Sydney Sweeney has been vocal about her frustration with the way she is treated by the media and paparazzi.

Sweeney said in a 2022 interview with the publication. Cosmopolitan that she found the recognition she received for White Lotus ironic considering her role as Cassie in Euphoriagrueling trajectory.

“I don’t think a lot of people took me seriously in Euphoria because I took my shirt off,” she added. “In White Lotus, suddenly all these people came out of the woodwork and said, “You are the most amazing thing…” and I was like, But Euphoria was the craziest emotional roller coaster I’ve ever had. So, thank you?

Just this month, Sweeney shared the harassment she experiences from paparazzi, attributing their attention to constant conversations surrounding her body. According to Deadline The actress said paparazzi showed up at her Florida home and tried to talk her family into forcing her to go outside. “They said, ‘If you tell her to just go outside in a bikini, I’ll take a photo and then leave you alone.’ She added that photographers entering her home risk her safety: “Everyone knows where I am. There are boats going by now and I can literally hear them saying, “This is Sydney Sweeney’s house.”

Sweeney’s turn as Martin offers her a chance to show herself in a new light. “Christy’s story sheds light on her incredible rise to the top, showing the struggle for fame behind the scenes,” she told Deadline. “I feel compelled to tell the story of a woman who faced so much adversity and didn’t let it happen. defeat her. It’s powerful and emotional.”

Fans clearly share her enthusiasm. One follower commented on her Instagram post: “Hopefully this is finally a non-sexualized iconic role that will show off the acting talent she so desperately needs.” Another wrote: “Oh I already know men are going to hate this. I love it.”

While we think Sweeney’s acting skills have been on display all along, we’re glad to see her in a new light.

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