Sydney Sweeney is a sought-after actor, but you may not recognize him in his next role.
Photos circulating online show Sweeney’s transformation into renowned female boxer Christy Martin, in a performance far removed from her other roles.
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So far fans have seen her in teen drama Euphoria, romantic comedy Anything But You and comedy drama The White Lotus.
But she has swapped her red carpet glamor for grittier, darker roles.
Portraying the famous Martin, who now goes by her maiden name Salters, is not easy.
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Known as the person who paved the way for female fighters – becoming world champion, the first female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, are just some of Salters’ stories.
Not to mention the night Salters stole the show from Mike Tyson in 1996, when she competed on her undercard against Deirdre Gogarty, in a fight that Sports Illustrated said had “more action and better boxing” than Tyson’s fight with Frank Bruno.
Once again, only a small part of Salters’ story, as his life outside the ring was marred by tragedy and destruction.
Salters suffered years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, James Martin, which reached a boiling point in 2010.
On November 23, at their home in Apopka, Florida, the disturbed husband stabbed and shot his wife several times, until she died.
Miraculously, Salters survived and Martin was convicted of attempted second degree murder and found guilty of all three charges against him, and faced life in prison.
After learning about the leaked photos, the 27-year-old posted several behind-the-scenes photos. His blonde hair has been replaced by Martin’s dark curls, while he also showed definition in his arms by flexing his bulging biceps from his work at the gym.
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He wrote: “Well, the cat is out of the bag thanks to some friends in the bush, so here’s a little story from the film I’m working on at the moment.
“Over the past few months, I have been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an extraordinary woman – a true champion who fought both inside and outside the ring.
“Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I am honored to be her to share her powerful story with all of you. More to come soon.”
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And even though he knows that Salters’ story goes far beyond the ring, Sweeney is still excited to put the gloves back on.
He was no stranger to the ring.
“I wrestled and did kickboxing from the ages of 12-19,” Sweeney told Deadline after he was announced for the role.
“I really want to get back in the ring, train and change my body.”
Christy’s story is not a light story, it is physically and emotionally demanding, and there are many burdens to carry. But I like to challenge myself.”
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This seems to be one of, if not the biggest, challenge of the role Sweeney takes on.
The film will depict Salters’ life growing up in a coal mining family in small-town West Virginia, which will carry a lot of emotional weight.
The film’s director, David Michôd, said that the film will be about more than just the world of sports.
“This is more than just boxing—it’s about survival, identity and resilience,” Martin said.
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“This film will be a spectacle for fathers and their daughters, making them aware of domestic violence.”
Not only will Sweeney’s appearance be unrecognizable, he will also definitely sport a look that most of his fans are not used to seeing.
