Sydney Sweeney has undergone a complete transformation for her role as Christy Martin in David Michôd’s upcoming biopic about the boxer.
The 27-year-old actress looked unrecognizable while filming the yet-to-be-titled film in North Carolina over the weekend, sporting a shoulder-length mullet instead of her typical blonde locks.
The “Anyone But You” star tied a blue bandana around the dark wig and hid her famous curves under baggy pants, a beige T-shirt and an oversized zipper.
She completed the sporty outfit with a pair of white sneakers and apparently went makeup-free for the day of filming.
Sweeney’s wardrobe for the film – which tells Martin’s life story – is mostly ’90s sportswear, a far cry from her typical sultry looks.
Martin, 56, rose to fame in the 1990s as one of the greatest female boxers in American history, quickly conquering the country with her charisma and talent.
However, behind closed doors, the athlete was struggling with personal demons and a very toxic relationship with her manager, then husband, Jim Martin.
Jim viciously stabbed and shot Christy in 2010, but the fighter lived to tell her story, which she was delighted to have landed in Sweeney’s lap.
“I think she’s young, sexy, talented and about to make a movie that 20-plus years from now fathers will watch with their daughters to raise awareness about domestic violence,” the former boxer told TMZ in May.
“I want this film to raise awareness about domestic violence, the challenge of sexuality and the overall underdog story,” she continued. “I am the daughter of a coal miner from a small town in southern West Virginia who made an impact in a sport that was not taken seriously: women’s boxing.”
Christy said she was willing to help Sweeney with his training, especially when it came to perfecting his left hook.
However, Sweeney already has a bit of in-ring experience, having previously told Dateline that she “was wrestling and kickboxing between the ages of 12 and 19.”
“I couldn’t wait to get back in the ring, train and transform my body,” she told the outlet after her casting announcement.
“Christy’s story is not light, it is physically and emotionally demanding, she has a lot of weight to carry. But I like to challenge myself.
In addition to putting women’s boxing on the map, the “Euphoria” star noted that Christy also “overcame gender stereotypes and fought emotional, physical and financial abuse.”
“I am passionate about the world of fighting, Christy’s story highlights her incredible rise to the top while showing the struggles of fame behind the curtains,” she continued. “I feel compelled to tell the story of a woman who faced so much adversity and did not let it defeat her. It’s powerful and moving.
