NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Sydney Sweeney shared some of the secrets behind her dramatic transformation for her role as legendary boxer Christy Martin in the new movie “Christy.”
During a Q&A session after the film’s premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Friday, the 27-year-old actress, who gained more than 30 pounds to play Martin, detailed how her preparations included intense physical training and a diet heavy on Chick-fil-A and milkshakes.
“I trained for two or three months before [filming]. I had a boxing coach,” she said in a video shared on social media. “I had weight trainers, I had nutritionists. I trained three times a day, every day. And then while I was filming, I trained as well.”
“And there was a lot of Chick-fil-A,” director David Michôd added.
“A lot of Chick-fil-A, a lot,” Sweeney agreed. “A lot of Smucker’s, a lot of milkshakes, a lot of protein shakes.”
“But it was incredible being able to completely embody such a powerful woman,” she added. “I felt even stronger. It was truly inspiring.”
“Christy” tells the story of Martin, nicknamed the “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and her rise from small-town West Virginia to becoming one of the most recognizable female boxers of the 1990s.
“I have these two different parts of my personality, which I think is why Sydney Sweeney does this awesome job,” she continued. “She got to be this totally different person that none of you expected. She wasn’t the beautiful, sexy Sydney. She was the tough, rugged Christy in this movie.”
After her ex-husband’s attempt on her life, Martin became a motivational speaker and founded the nonprofit Christy’s Champs, which supports domestic violence survivors.
Martin told the crowd she hoped her story would inspire others and that the film would give them confidence to pursue their dreams.
“I made a deal with God from the hospital: if you let me live, I would help as many people as possible,” Martin said of her recovery after the attack. “I hope this movie does that. If a coal miner’s daughter from a 500-person town in southern West Virginia can make it, anybody can.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Christy” received a standing ovation after its premiere.
Sweeney’s performance has been hailed by critics and “landed immediate Oscar buzz,” according to The Associated Press.
Ahead of TIFF, Sweeney said she would not be commenting on controversy over her American Eagle “Great Jeans” campaign.
Her TIFF appearance marked her first public outing since the ad campaign drew backlash following its July release.
In an interview with Vanity Fair published earlier this week, Sweeney said she would shut down any questions about the campaign.
“I am there to support my movie and the people involved in making it. I’m not there to talk about jeans,” the “White Lotus” star said. “The movie’s about Christy, and that’s what I’ll be there to talk about.”
The post Sydney Sweeney says ‘a lot of Chick-fil-A’ and milkshakes fueled dramatic transformation for boxer role appeared first on Fox News.
