Popular actress Sydney Sweeney is not someone we necessarily connect to the sports world. The sultry star is more known for her small-screen roles on hit shows such as Euphoria and The White Lotus.
But most of you reading this wouldn’t mind Sweeney, 26, getting more screen time.
Well, we’re glad to provide a positive report on that end. According to Deadline, Sweeney is set to star in a Netflix movie as legendary former female boxer Christy Martin. The untitled project is directed by David Michod, who is best known for the films Animal Kingdom, War Machine and The King.
Sweeney’s role on the aforementioned Euphoria and a movie titled The Voyeurs have made her popular among … certain fans.
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Christy Martin Finally Portrayed In A Movie With Sydney Sweeney In Starring Role
Now 55 years old, Martin made her name in the ring back in the 1990s and is considered one of the most-famous female boxers of all-time. She was promoted by the legendary Don King during a career that saw “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” boast a 31-7 record.
She was something else.
At the height of her fame, Martin became the first female boxer to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated with a headline that read, “The Lady Is a Champ.”
As for Sweeney, she surprisingly has some experience in the ring herself.
“I grappled and did kickboxing from 12-19 years old. I’ve been itching to get back into the ring, train, and transform my body,” Sydney Sweeney told Deadline. “Christy’s story isn’t a light one, it’s physically and emotionally demanding, there’s a lot of weight to carry. But I love challenging myself.”
She’s also excited to pay her respects for what Martin did to uplift women during the former boxer’s career.
“Christy Martin not only legitimized female boxing, she overcame gender stereotypes, and fought through emotional, physical, and financial abuse,” Sweeney said.
The movie will tell a story of Christy as a gay woman in small-town Virginia who was raised by conservative parents and used boxing as an outlet.
“She had to make some dangerous and fundamental compromises in her life, the most important of which was marrying an incredibly dangerous man,” Michod said.
Sign us up!