Sydney Sweeney is ready to step into the ring.
The actress shared a couple of behind-the-scenes images (below) from her time on the set of the Christy Martin biopic in which she’s set to star.
“Well the cats out of the bag thanks to some paps in bushes so here’s a little bts from my film im working on right now,” she wrote in an Instagram caption of two photos of her in sweats with a brown, curly hairdo. “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.”
She concluded, “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.”
David Michôd will direct the film, which is currently untitled and follows the true story of Martin’s rise to being one of the most well-known female boxers in 1990s America. Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, Ethan Embry and Katy O’Brian also star in the biopic, produced and financed by Black Bear, after collaborating with Sweeney on Immaculate.
Martin began her career in 1989 after meeting manager and eventual husband Jim Martin. She continued to compete until 2012 and is the only female boxer thus far to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
But the athlete’s life has not been without its fair share of struggles. In 2010, her husband stabbed her repeatedly and shot her in the chest, leaving her for dead. She managed to find the strength to run out of the house and flag down a passerby, who took her to the hospital. Two years later, Jim Martin was sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempted second-degree murder with a firearm.
The boxer told CBS News that his abuse of her took many forms, including sexual and emotional. She explained he got her addicted to cocaine and gave her a constant supply. He also blackmailed her and threatened to reveal her sexual orientation.
“The whole sexuality part is really difficult because I was so intertwined,” she told the network. “First of all, I trusted Jim Martin, and he was 25 years older than me. He was my coach. I felt like this was someone that I could open up and bear my soul to, and tell him all about my sexuality struggles, my struggles with my family, just life struggles, and all of that was used against me.”
