Sydney Sweeney took on a challenge few in Hollywood dare to — transforming herself not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, to embody a woman whose story demands to be told. In “Christy,” Sweeney revisits the life of Christy Salters Martin, once the most famous female boxer in America. Martin didn’t just fight opponents in the ring — she wrestled with trauma, abuse and survival.
The film chronicles Martin’s journey from a small‑town West Virginia upbringing to boxing stardom, culminating in a harrowing near‑fatal attack by her then‑husband and trainer. That she survived — and climbed back into the ring — is nothing short of extraordinary. Sweeney, who also co‑produced the film, committed to honoring that reality. She gained 30 pounds, built a training gym in her grandmother’s shed in Idaho, and endured the physical toll of real fight scenes so the performances felt authentic, not staged.
Martin, now 57, has kept much of her old life behind her. On the press tour, she admitted she isn’t enjoying revisiting painful memories — she’d rather return to rural West Virginia, to obscurity and peace. But for Martin, “Christy” isn’t about fame or redemption. It’s about purpose. She hopes the visibility will amplify her survivors‑first mission: speaking to shelters, schools and support groups — giving a voice to others who, like her, have had to fight their way back from darkness.
For Sweeney, the film is transformative too. Known in Hollywood for beauty and glamour, she says “Christy” offered an opportunity to shed the spotlight — to show that strength, struggle and survival are worth telling. She calls it the most meaningful project of her life. One where the story matters more than box office numbers.
Because for Martin — and for many women who have faced pain and fought to rise — strength isn’t about headlines. It’s about survival.