Sydney Sweeney is proving she is a total knockout, both on and off the screen. The “Euphoria” star is currently trending across social media after her co-star, Katy O’Brian, revealed just how far Sydney was willing to go for her upcoming role as boxing legend Christy Martin.
While many actors might request a stunt double or extra padding, Sydney apparently had a very different philosophy when it came to getting hit. According to O’Brian, Sydney was more than ready to take a real punch to make the film look authentic.
“I got punched quite a few times,” O’Brian shared during the A premiere of “Eddington” in West Hollywood on Thursday night. “It felt good. It was great. It better read well on camera.”
A Fearless Approach to the Ring
The buzz started when O’Brian admitted that while she was on the receiving end of Sydney’s strikes, she was much more hesitant to swing back. Despite Sydney packing on pounds of muscle for the transformation, O’Brian noted that she still had a significant size advantage over the “Anyone But You” actress.
“Even with the extra pounds I would still have to pounds on her, so it never feels good,” O’Brian explained. However, Sydney apparently did not share that concern.
When O’Brian jokingly pleaded with her co-star to keep the punches clean because she had to film “The Running Man” immediately after the biopic, Sydney’s response was legendary. “She was like, ‘If you break my nose, that’s fine,'” O’Brian recalled.
The Transformation Fans Are Talking About
Sydney’s dedication to the role has already been a massive topic of conversation on Instagram and X. Earlier this year, the actress shocked fans when she revealed the physical toll of becoming Christy Martin.
“My body was completely different,” Sydney told W magazine. “I didn’t fit in any of my clothes. I’m usually a size in jeans, and I was wearing a size . My boobs got bigger. And my butt got huge. It was crazy! I was like, ‘Oh my god.'”
She added that while the change was drastic, it was also empowering: “It was amazing: I was so strong, like crazy strong.”
Honoring a Legend
The untitled biopic tells the harrowing and triumphant story of Christy Martin, who dominated the super welterweight division in the s and s. Martin’s life story is one of extreme resilience; in , she famously survived a brutal murder attempt by her then-husband, James Martin.
O’Brian shared that having the real-life Christy Martin on set added an extra layer of intensity to the production.
“That alone is intimidating, to have a real person there and then a real person who can kick your butt,” O’Brian said. “That’s all very scary, but she was super awesome, really hyped for it and was just a cool positive influence.”
Online Buzz and Fan Reactions
Fans have been quick to praise Sydney’s commitment, with many pointing out that she seems determined to break away from her “glamour girl” image. On TikTok, clips of Sydney training have garnered millions of views, with users commenting that they “hardly recognize her” and calling her a “future Oscar contender.”
“Sydney really said ‘put ’em up,'” one fan joked on X. “She’s going to be incredible in this.”
With David Michod directing and a cast that clearly isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty, this biopic is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated releases of the year. For now, fans can catch Katy O’Brian in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” but all eyes remain on the boxing ring to see Sydney’s final transformation.
