Sydney Sweeney is flexing her acting muscles, literally and figuratively.
On October 16, the Glamour Woman of the Year teased her latest project after photos of her recent transformation surfaced online.
It turns out, Sweeney has been training to channel International Boxing Hall of Fame champion Christy Martin in a biopic announced earlier this year.
The term “unrecognizable” gets thrown around a lot in Hollywood when it comes to physical transformations for roles, but Sweeney’s curly brown mullet and boxing-ring-ready triceps may make you do a double take.
“Well the cats out of the bag thanks to some paps in bushes so here’s a little bts from my film I’m working on right now,” Sweeney wrote on Instagram alongside a series of behind-the-scenes snaps from set. “Over the past few months, I’ve been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman—a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring.
Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I’m honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. More to come soon :)”
Rising to fame in the ’90s, Christy Martin is a legendary boxer who competed professionally for 23 years, even after surviving a murder attempt from her then-husband in 2010.
She held the World Boxing Council’s female super welterweight title in 2009 and is the only female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. She’s currently married to her former competitor Lisa Holewyne.
“Christy Martin not only legitimized female boxing, she overcame gender stereotypes and fought through emotional, physical, and financial abuse,” Sweeney told Deadline in May. “I’m passionate about the fighting world, Christy’s story shines a light on her incredible rise to the top while showing the struggles of fame behind the curtains.
I feel compelled to tell a story about a woman who faced so much adversity and didn’t allow it to defeat her. It’s powerful, and emotional.”
Between her rom-com Anyone But You and her turn as former NSA contractor and intelligence leaker Reality Winner, Sydney Sweeney has showcased incredible range since making a name for herself as Cassie Howard in Euphoria. “She’s a total renaissance woman,” Anyone But You costar Glen Powell recently told Glamour for Sweeney’s WOTY cover story. “I’ve never met someone who has an aptitude for so much.
But the thing that really makes her a movie star, or a Glamour Woman of the Year, is that she’s able to effortlessly move through this world and be convincing in all these different things but also maintain her humanity.”
He continued, “I think people feel that onscreen. Everybody knows she’s talented and magnetic and beautiful, and all those things, but I think her heart’s going to be what takes her the distance.”
