The True Story Behind Sydney Sweeney’s Gritty Boxing Drama Christy

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In creating the biographical film named “Christy,” which recently debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, directors David Michôd and Mirrah Foulkes aimed to closely follow the actual life story of boxer Christy Salters Martin. They strived for authenticity in their portrayal.

In their pre-screening interview, Foulkes expressed that they aimed to be as faithful as possible to the historical truth when working on the project.

As a captivated moviegoer, I can’t help but be moved by Martin’s inspiring and unadulterated tale. Born and bred in the heartlands of West Virginia, she rose to prominence as an emblematic figure in female boxing during the mid-1990s, gracing the pages of Sports Illustrated and lending credibility to the sport. However, her athletic victories were cruelly overshadowed by years of abuse at the hands of her husband and coach, Jim Martin. In 2010, he attempted to end her life in a chilling act of violence, stabbing her repeatedly, disfiguring her leg, and shooting her. Miraculously, Martin retorted defiantly, “Motherf-cker, you cannot kill me.” Eventually, Jim was sentenced to 25 years behind bars, where he met his end last year.

On-screen, Sydney Sweeney delivers an impressive, transformative acting effort for the highly anticipated film. To bring her character to life, she significantly increases her physical strength to portray a formidable boxer. However, off the ring, her character is secretive and closeted, fearing repercussions for expressing her personal desires. This complex role could potentially earn Sweeney award recognition.

It’s also one that Martin herself, now 57, had a large role in shaping. 

Michod shares that he hadn’t created a film of this kind before, as it was a biographical piece centered around a real individual who was accessible for input,” (paraphrased)

Michod often explores diverse themes, referring to them as “idiot guys.” He gained recognition with the 2010 crime drama, “Animal Kingdom,” followed by films like “The King” featuring Timothée Chalamet as Henry V. With another project occupying his time when it came to writing “Christy,” set for a nationwide cinema release on November 7, he delegated the film’s development to Foulkes, who is also his spouse.

Initially, Foulkes connected with Martin through a video call on Zoom. Later, they had an in-person meeting in Florida, where Martin resides with her spouse Lisa Holewyne, who used to be a boxing rival of Foulkes. Since Martin continues to be active in the boxing industry, she showed Foulkes around various gyms and boxing matches.

Initially, it was primarily about establishing trust with Christy and cultivating a strong rapport between us, asserts Foulkes. It was crucial for both parties that she felt confident in us and actively participated and felt included in the process.

It’s clear that, due to the complexities and challenges she’d faced throughout her life, Martin appeared somewhat reserved when Foulkes first encountered her – as depicted in the 2021 episode of Netflix’s Untold documentary series.

Foulkes stated that she had an expectation we would make her life more like a Hollywood production. She seemed to be preparing herself for this transformation. However, since Michôd and Foulkes are Australian, they were not part of the entertainment industry she was wary of, which might have helped in presenting her story authentically without glossing over its true essence.

As a devoted cinephile, I found myself astounded by the filmmakers’ remarkable ability to earn Martin’s trust to such an extent that they were privy to details not typically disclosed elsewhere. For one, when the Martins were experiencing financial hardship, before Christy gained the notice of boxing promoter Don King, Jim, brilliantly portrayed by Ben Foster in a chilling performance, would take her to motel rooms to engage in sparring matches with men who paid for the privilege. This unsettling scene, although somewhat obscure, is strikingly depicted in the film. “The scene had certain sexual undercurrents,” Foulkes explains.

In their adaptation of Martin’s story, Foulkes and Michôd combined aspects from two of his past girlfriends into a single character named Jess Gabor. This amalgamated character is portrayed as a lover from Christy’s past who resurfaces in her life right before Jim tries to kill her, thereby acting as a catalyst for Jim’s actions.

Even as a devoted fan, I couldn’t help but notice their unwavering dedication to authenticity during the filming process. This often involved turning to Martin, who was present for about a third of the shoot and also accompanied by his emotional support dog, Champ. Interestingly enough, Champ bears an uncanny resemblance to the Pomeranian that portrays Christy’s on-screen pet, which aligns perfectly with the director’s fondness for this breed.

“She was really useful when we needed her and just really relaxed,” Foulkes says of Martin. 

Michod expressed initial reservations about Sweeney involving Martin, as he wanted to safeguard his own creative realm. However, once he understood that Martin had no intention of controlling her performance, he became more open and welcoming.

“Soon as Sydney and Christy met properly, you could see this bond form very quickly,” Michôd adds. 

In another turn of events, Foster’s portrayal was quite different. He expertly embodied the older, domineering Jim, complete with an over-the-top combover, making his interpretation so accurate that those who had interacted with the real person found it unsettling. “He caused discomfort on set,” Michôd explains. “Anyone familiar with Christy and had known her for a while didn’t want to be in close proximity to him.

Foulkes and Michôd felt quite anxious to reveal the completed project to Martin, but breathed a sigh of relief when she phoned them promptly to voice her appreciation for their work.

Christy speaks honestly, according to Foulkes. It’s clear when she admires something or not. They were incredibly relieved by her reaction.

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2025-09-06 00:06