That enigmatic figure in the frame? None other than Sydney Sweeney, a veritable blonde bombshell onscreen, yet uncannily disguised in her portrayal of the indomitable boxer, Christy Martin. Captured by The Post's lens on a Charlotte, North Carolina set, the 27-year-old Euphoria sensation wore a disguise so convincing, she was virtually unrecognizable.
Adorned with a cropped, curly brunette wig, Sweeney transformed into the iconic figure, donning a baggy zip-up, sweatpants, and a T-shirt that concealed her renowned hourglass figure. Her attire echoed Christy's signature '90s mullet, complemented by a blue bandana, a style that preceded the tragic turn her life would take at the hands of her husband.
Dubbed "The Coal Miner's Daughter," Christy burst onto the boxing scene in 1989, pioneering women's boxing into the mainstream with her showdown against Deirdre Gogarty at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, 1996. That match secured her a coveted spot on the April 1996 cover of Sports Illustrated, marking her as the first female boxer to grace the pages of the iconic swimsuit magazine, under the headline, "The Lady Is a Champ."
Yet, her tale of triumph was marred by a dark chapter in 2010, when her husband, James, a man nearly three decades her senior and once her manager, turned deadly. In a brutal attack, he stabbed and shot her, leaving her for dead in their Florida bedroom. Miraculously, the 42-year-old warrior survived, while James faced justice for attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Their tumultuous marriage, plagued by substance abuse, eventually dissolved, and in 2017, Christy publicly embraced her sexuality, marrying Lisa Holewyne. She also penned a memoir, "Fighting for Survival: My Journey through Boxing Fame, Abuse, Murder, and Resurrection," shedding light on her resilience in the face of adversity.
The announcement of David Michôd's upcoming biopic, with Sweeney in the lead role, resonated deeply with Christy. "She's young, hot, talented, and poised to create a film that generations will cherish, fathers sharing with daughters as a poignant lesson on domestic violence," she enthused to TMZ.
Sweeney, too, was drawn to the weighty narrative, having already dabbled in grappling and kickboxing during her formative years. "The call of the ring has lingered, and I yearn to rediscover that fire, to train and reshape my physique," she confessed to Deadline.
But it was Christy's unyielding spirit, her defiance against gender stereotypes, and her triumphant rise amidst emotional, physical, and financial abuse that truly ignited Sweeney's passion. "Christy's tale is a powerful testament to perseverance amidst insurmountable odds. It's a story that demands to be told, one that illuminates the darkest corners of fame while celebrating a woman who refused to be defined by her struggles," she declared, her voice brimming with conviction.
