Sydney Sweeney is going from hit to hit right now, literally. The Euphoria star is set to portray women’s boxing trailblazer Christy Martin, dubbed the “female Rocky” by director David Michôd, in an untitled biopic.
Martin’s story is as empowering as it is sobering, breaking boundaries and records alike for women in boxing. The first female boxer to be featured in Sports Illustrated, Martin boasted an undefeated streak that stretched beyond a decade. However, as a gay woman born to a conservative West Virginian family in 1968, much of her professional career was spent living a double life.
In an interview with Deadline, Sweeney said, “I grappled and did kickboxing from 12-19 years old. I’ve been itching to get back into the ring, train, and transform my body. 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.”
“I feel compelled to tell a story about a woman who faced so much adversity and didn’t allow it to defeat her,” continued Sweeney. “It’s powerful and emotional.” Having trained in grappling and kickboxing throughout her teens and recently portraying FBI informant-slash-CrossFitter Reality Winner in the critically acclaimed crime drama Reality, the casting is an inspired one. Sweeney herself already seems to be preparing for the role, with her decision to ditch blonde for black at the Met Gala last week.