Actress Sydney Sweeney underwent a remarkable physical transformation for her latest role, gaining 35 pounds to portray legendary boxer Christy Martin in the upcoming biopic Christy. The two-time Emmy nominee revealed this dramatic change during an exclusive interview where she focused entirely on discussing the film.
From Controversy to the Boxing Ring
Sweeney's career has recently been marked by unexpected controversies. Earlier this summer, the Euphoria star found herself at the center of a firestorm following her appearance in an American Eagle advertising campaign. The "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" commercial faced criticism from some who suggested the wording had racial undertones given the actress's blond hair and blue eyes.
The 28-year-old actress eventually addressed the backlash in an interview with GQ, stating that "the reaction definitely was a surprise." She explained her perspective simply: "All I wear are jeans. I'm literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life... I knew at the end of the day what that ad was for, and it was great jeans, it didn't affect me one way or the other."
Unexpected Viral Moments
More recently, Sweeney generated another wave of online discussion after appearing on Fox's pre-game coverage for the World Series. The actress shared Instagram photos showing herself and friend Kaylee McGregor preparing to eat hotdogs, captioning the images "Just a couple of dodger dogs."
When asked about her hotdog preferences during the Zoom interview from Los Angeles, Sweeney laughed while revealing her controversial choice. "You're going to hate me. I eat my hotdogs plain. I didn't know it was such a thing until recently when I said it in an interview and people attacked me. I was like, 'I can't do anything right.'"
Christy Martin, who joined Sweeney for the conversation, offered her own regional preference: "I'm from West Virginia. We actually eat coleslaw on our hotdogs. Chili and coleslaw," she said with a chuckle.
The Most Demanding Role Yet
For Sweeney, portraying champion boxer Christy Martin represents her most challenging role to date in her rapidly evolving career. Martin fought her way to the top of the male-dominated boxing world while enduring abuse from her homicidal ex-husband Jim, played in the film by Ben Foster.
When asked how she related to Martin's story, Sweeney drew parallels between their respective struggles. "Christy has fought her own fights in the ring and outside of the ring, and I fight my own respective fights in a ring and outside of the ring. It's complicated being a young woman and trying to trailblaze your own path as a woman in an industry that you don't know how to navigate and you're taking it day-by-day. I also related to her by just being misunderstood."
The physical transformation and emotional depth required for the role demonstrate Sweeney's commitment to her craft as she continues to take on increasingly complex characters in her career.
