Sometimes a single role can pull an actor into entirely new territory, and that was the case for Sydney Sweeney as her latest project continued to attract attention.
While promoting her intense boxing drama Christy, the actress found herself stepping into a major milestone—her first-ever Sports Illustrated cover.
Celebrating a Milestone Cover
Sweeney appeared on the magazine’s newest issue alongside Christy Salters Martin, the groundbreaking boxer whose life story inspired the film.
The cover served not only as a career highlight for the Euphoria star but also as a tribute to the athlete she portrayed.
Sweeney embodied Martin, a trailblazer in women’s boxing who survived a brutal attack by her then-husband and manager, James Martin—a shocking chapter that became part of her widely known legacy.
Meeting Christy and Discovering Her Resilience
During the cover interview, Sweeney opened up about how meeting Christy for the first time changed her perspective.
She admitted she was stunned that she hadn’t known Martin’s story before joining the film.
But once they connected, Sweeney quickly realized how remarkable the former boxer truly is.
Despite everything Martin endured, Sweeney was moved by her warmth and joyful outlook on life.
She shared that Christy’s resilience reminded her that choosing kindness—even after hardship—keeps anyone aligned with the right path.
Training in Total Privacy
Sweeney also described her training process, which she intentionally kept away from the Hollywood spotlight.
Rather than prepare for the film in Los Angeles, she returned to her home state of Idaho, where she could stay out of the public eye and focus completely on the physical transformation the role demanded.
She explained that training there helped her “disappear,” giving her space to fully dive into the mindset of a fighter without distraction.
A Box Office Disappointment, but a Creative Victory
Although Christy didn’t achieve commercial success—bringing in under $2 million worldwide despite its $15 million budget—Sweeney has been vocal about the film’s deeper impact.
On Instagram, she expressed that if the movie helped even one woman take steps toward safety, then the project fulfilled its purpose.
She emphasized that storytelling isn’t always about numbers but about meaning, calling Christy the most influential project she has ever taken on.
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