Sydney Sweeney's metamorphosis for her latest role was nothing short of flawless. Indeed, the actress revealed that the journey of packing on 30 pounds to portray professional boxer Christy Martin in the Christy biopic was, above all, an exhilarating adventure. "It was probably one of the most amazing, fun experiences I've ever had," Sydney confided exclusively to E! News’ Francesca Amiker ahead of the world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 5. "I was a very happy person throughout the process, and I emerged incredibly strong. I felt fantastic. I mean, I truly embodied Christy's power."
And gaining all that muscle wasn't nearly as arduous as one might imagine. Alongside consuming "everything in sight" to build the requisite muscle for stepping into the shoes of a professional boxer, the 27-year-old found the workouts to be a source of immense joy. "I loved every minute of it," she gushed. "It just felt fun and thrilling. I don't recall ever thinking, 'Oh my god, this is grueling,' because it was just such an incredible time."
Earlier that summer, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actress provided a deeper glimpse into the rigorous process. "When I signed on to play Christy, I had roughly three and a half months of intense training," she recounted to W magazine in a June interview. "I started eating like crazy. I'd weight-train for an hour in the morning, engage in kickboxing for about two hours midday, and then return to weight-training for another hour at night."
Though she admitted, "I didn't fit into any of my clothes anymore," she emphasized that the sacrifice was more than worthwhile. "But it was absolutely amazing," she clarified. "I felt incredibly powerful, like, insanely strong."
Beyond the physical transformation, Sydney also had to channel Christy's essence mentally to truly excel in the role. "Christy's story isn't a light-hearted one; it's physically and emotionally taxing, carrying a tremendous amount of weight," she shared with Deadline last year. "But I thrive on challenging myself. Christy Martin didn't just legitimize female boxing; she shattered gender stereotypes and persevered through emotional, physical, and financial abuse."
