Sydney Sweeney has drawn widespread acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for her performance in Christy, a new biopic about trailblazing boxer Christy Salters Martin.
The 27-year-old Emmy-nominated actor, best known for Euphoria and The White Lotus, plays Martin in the David Michôd–directed film. Critics hailed her performance as her most powerful to date, sparking early Oscar buzz as awards season begins.
A story of survival
Martin, known as the “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” became one of the first women to rise to prominence in professional boxing, winning multiple titles and appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated. But behind her public success was a hidden struggle.
She married her trainer, Jim Martin, who abused her for years. In 2010, he attempted to kill her, stabbing and shooting her multiple times. Martin survived the attack; Jim Martin was later sentenced to 25 years in prison and died last November.
On Friday, Sweeney appeared alongside Christy Martin at TIFF’s Princess of Wales Theatre. “It’s the best experience of my life,” she told the audience.
Transformation on screen
The film shows Sweeney in a markedly different light from her past roles. She trained three times a day for months, working with boxing and nutrition coaches to embody the fighter’s physique and spirit. On screen, she sports short, dark hair and a heavier build, fully embracing Martin’s toughness in and out of the ring.
“This is Sydney’s least showy, rawest performance yet,” one critic said, while audiences gave the film a rapturous reception.
Christy Martin praised the actor’s commitment, saying Sweeney captured both her bold public image and her private vulnerability. “She wasn’t Sydney, who was pretty and hot,” Martin said. “She was the rough and tough Christy.”
Oscar season momentum
TIFF has long been seen as a launchpad for awards season campaigns. With the enthusiastic response to Christy, industry watchers say Sweeney could emerge as a serious contender in the coming months.
Black Bear Pictures, which produced the film, will release it in US cinemas on 7 November — its first theatrical distribution project. Sweeney also served as a producer on the film, alongside Martin herself.
Controversy outside the film
The buzz around Christy comes as Sweeney faces criticism over a recent American Eagle ad campaign. Some accused the slogan — “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans” — of echoing racial undertones. The brand defended the campaign, saying it focused only on denim.
Asked at TIFF about the backlash, Sweeney brushed off the controversy. “I’m not there to talk about jeans,” she told Vanity Fair. “I’ll be there to talk about Christy because that’s what the movie is about.”
For Sweeney, the transformation into a boxing icon marks both a career milestone and a statement of resilience. “It was wonderful being able to fully embody such a strong woman,” she said. “I felt stronger still.”
