Sydney Sweeney goes makeup-free playing boxer Christy Martin on set of hotly-anticipated biopic

Sydney Sweeney was almost unrecognizable on set in Gastonia, North Carolina, on Tuesday as she transformed into legendary boxer Christy Martin for an upcoming biopic.

The 27-year-old Everyone But You star, who recently thwarted a burglary attempt while filming, completely ditched her glamorous image for a gritty, athletic look straight out of the 1990s.

Swapping her usual red carpet style for a loose sports ensemble, Sweeney wore a brunette wig, pink tank top and dark shorts, capturing Martin’s spirit from her early boxing days.

She wore a pair of pink sneakers and carried a knapsack, embodying the fighter who years later survived a brutal attack by her husband in an attempt on her life.

The glimpse into the production comes after Sweeney, who took up martial arts as a teenager, said the film has given her the perfect opportunity to reignite her passion for the ring.

Christy Martin is seen in March 1996 – after defeating Deirdre Gogarty of Ireland in their WBC Championship Boxing Lightweight fight

‘I wrestled and did kickboxing from 12 to 19 years old. I was eager to get back in the ring, train and transform my body,” Sweeney said Term recently.

“Christy’s story is not light; it’s physically and emotionally demanding… But I like to challenge myself.

‘I feel compelled to tell a story about a woman who faced so much adversity and did not let it defeat her. It’s powerful and emotional.’

Directed by David Michod, the film follows Martin’s rise to fame in the 1990s as America’s top female boxer.

Sweeney signed on to play Christy Martin in May, with Michod (Animal Kingdom) directing from a script he co-wrote with Mirrah Foulkes.

The cast includes Ben Foster, who plays Martin’s husband James, along with Merritt Weaver, Ethan Embry and Katy O’Brien.

Now 56, Martin, nicknamed “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” in honor of her father’s roots, hails from West Virginia and is widely credited with putting women’s boxing in the spotlight.

Her iconic 1996 showdown against Deirdre Gogarty at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas captivated a packed arena and cemented her place in boxing history.

The Everyone But You star, 27, who recently thwarted a burglary attempt while filming, ditched her glamorous image completely for a gritty, athletic look straight out of the 1990s

Swapping her usual red carpet style for a loose sports ensemble, Sweeney wore a brunette wig, pink tank top and dark shorts, capturing Martin’s spirit from her early boxing days.

The glimpse into the production comes after Sweeney, who took up martial arts as a teenager, said the film has given her the perfect opportunity to reignite her passion for the ring.

‘I wrestled and did kickboxing from 12 to 19 years old. I’m excited to get back in the ring, train and transform my body,” Sweeney recently told Deadline.

Martin’s success led to appearances on the cover of Sports Illustrated, guest spots on major talk shows and even cameos on American sitcoms.

Yet her life, far from the spotlight, was far from the epitome of success.

For twenty years she was abused by her husband and trainer, James ‘Jim’ Martin.

During a chilling attack on November 23, 2010, Jim stabbed Christy multiple times and shot her once in the torso, leaving her for dead after a heated argument at their home. Remarkably, Christy survived.

In June 2012, Jim was sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempted murder and manslaughter.

The cast includes Ben Foster, who plays Martin’s husband James, along with Merritt Weaver, Ethan Embry and Katy O’Brien

‘I feel compelled to tell a story about a woman who faced so much adversity and did not let it defeat her. It’s powerful and emotional,” Sydney said of playing Martin; (photo March)

These days, Christy has found a new purpose as a boxing promoter and married her former ring rival, Lisa Holewyn, in 2017.

Her journey as a boxer and survivor has transformed her into an enduring symbol of resilience.

She became the first woman to be inducted into both the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (2016) and the International Boxing Hall of Fame (2020), finishing her career with a record of 49-7-3.

Currently in production, the release date for the film remains unannounced.