When Christy Martin exploded into the public consciousness in the 1990s, she didn’t just change the visibility of women’s boxing – she redefined what strength could look like when it refused to be contained. Christy revisits that seismic rise through the eyes of those tasked with bringing her story to the screen: Sydney Sweeney, whose performance captures both Martin’s ferocity and fragility; Ben Foster, channelling the volatility orbiting her success; and Christy Martin herself, confronting the uncanny experience of seeing her life refracted through performance.
Ahead of the film’s Australian release (you can read our review here) Peter Gray spoke with the trio about the emotional instincts required when portraying real people – when to honour the facts, when to trust the body, and how vulnerability becomes a form of truth as powerful as any punch.
I flew to Toronto last September with a list of non-negotiable movies that I had to see, and Christy was on that list. Absolutely worth it. I just want to extend a congratulations to all of you.
Sydney Sweeney: Thank you. You flew from Australia to Toronto?
I did indeed, yes.
Sydney Sweeney: You love movies (laughs).
I wanted to ask you first, Christy and Sydney. Christy, your life was about survival, both outside the ring and inside. Sydney, your performance obviously mirrors that. It’s not just about fighting, but about enduring. When you first connected, was there a moment that made you realise you understood each other on a level beyond words? Something that was emotional or instinctual for both of you?
Sydney Sweeney: I think that, honestly, right when I read the script, even before I started doing my research, the script was so powerful in its own right. I felt Christy right then and there. The more I got to know her, the more I was like, “Yeah, this is a person that I want in my life forever.” And I was completely inspired by her.
Christy Martin: For me, it was just important that once we started to have a few conversations, it didn’t take many. I realised that she was doing this because she felt that it was important, not because it was just one of the many roles that she’s getting offered. This one is important, and that’s why I was like, “Oh, yeah, we got the right person.”
I will say, Sydney, you absolutely disappeared into this role. It was incredible. There wasn’t a moment that I thought, “Oh, it’s Sydney Sweeney on screen.” It was incredible. And for you, Ben, Jim is a man who sees power in Christy and tries to control that. I feel like he’s in love with what he can’t dominate. How did you approach embodying a character who was the creator and the destroyer at the same time, without falling into cliche or judgement?
Ben Foster: It’s a beautiful script by David (Michôd) and Mirrah (Foulkes), and Christie’s story is so inspiring. And then watching the documentary, this isn’t just a job if one has the opportunity to be in service of a story that is not just Christie’s, but is affecting people around the world every day. Behind closed doors. You get up and you get out of your own way, and with an open heart you ask the tough questions.
Sydney, we’ve seen you play these sort of women whose power comes from their vulnerability. With Christy, did you have to unlearn any of your own instincts as an actor to pay her truthfully.
Sydney Sweeney: No, I’ve always approached my characters in a sense of I separate myself from them, and every thought and instinct and emotion that is being portrayed on screen is because it’s coming from that character in that moment. I don’t like to rehearse and I don’t like to plan or prepare anything. I just like to know who my character is so that I can completely step away and step into that character’s shoes. It wasn’t like I had to relearn anything. I was just becoming Christy.
Christy, was there a moment in your life that you stopped trying to win and started trying to just be?
Christy Martin: I’m probably there now. I mean, God has blessed me to still be here and to get this opportunity to inspire and help so many other people not go through what I had to go through. I’m just blessed and fortunate to be here.
Christy is screening in Australian theatres from January 8th, 2026.
