Christy is in cinemas in the UK and Ireland and the harrowing yet poignant film is based on the real life of boxing phenomenon, Christy Martin.
Directed by David Michôd, the film stars Sydney Sweeney in the title role as Christy in a story of resilience, courage, and the fight to reclaim one’s life.
David spoke exclusively to Reach titles about casting actress Sweeney, who underwent a huge transformation for the role.
She trained extensively in boxing and weightlifting, gaining over 30 pounds, and she performed her own stunts after refusing to use a stunt double for the boxing sequences.
David said: “Mirrah Foulkes [director/screenwriter] and I were writing the script without a clear idea in our heads of who might play Christy, which can always be a little bit scary because we knew this was never going to be an easy movie to get made.
“It was going to need an actor of some stature, and two things happened – one was a friend of mine told me to have a look at Tina Satter’s movie Reality on HBO.
Sydney’s performance in it is so amazing, so any doubts I might have had about whether or not she was the real deal were put to bed.”
Another friend also informed David that Sydney used to train and compete as an MMA fighter when she was a teenager.
“I didn’t know that,” he added. “And that said to me she might be interested in this film and she would understand the work that would be required.
“So we sent her the script, and it felt like 24 hours later I was on the phone with her and it was clear she wanted to do it and she was going to work really hard, and that proved to be true.”
He explained how Sydney “threw herself in straight away”, adding: “[She] trained her guts out and was just a delight.
“I was just grateful, I don’t think we could have made the movie if she hadn’t been all-in.
“It was a short shoot, we had to work fast and hard. She was there every day for us, and kept the whole crew buoyant.
“That stuff really does make a difference. I don’t think we could have made it without that.”
The real Christy was on set as a valuable resource and David said they had since become good friends.
“More than anything we came to discover, her presence was her greatest contribution,” he shared.
“There was just something about having her around that everybody loved. I’m so glad not just because I got to make this movie, but that I can now call her a really good friend.”
Christy is in cinemas in the UK and Ireland
