‘They Were Holding Ice Packs To My Face’: Sydney Sweeney Teases One Of The Toughest Scenes She Filmed For The Christy Martin Biopic

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Sydney Sweeney, famous for her standout performances in shows like “Euphoria” and movies such as “Anyone But You” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, is venturing into a role that’s unlike anything she’s done before – portraying boxer Christy Martin in the upcoming film titled “Christy”. To prepare for this challenging part, Sweeney underwent intense fight training for the upcoming production. She opened up about one particularly difficult scene she filmed, and as you might expect, ice packs played a role in her recovery process.

It might seem as though making a boxing film involves carefully planned and convincing punches and jabs that appear realistic on the silver screen. Yet, Sydney Sweeney’s intriguing remarks to Variety during the Toronto International Film Festival challenge this assumption, suggesting that there may be more authenticity involved in the process than one might initially think.

During the Laila Ali bout, I took quite a beating and ended up with numerous bruises. Ice packs were frequently applied to my face during breaks. To put it mildly, I suffered a few heavy knocks. After the fight, I was left with some rather severe bruises.

It’s mind-blowing that actors were actually required to use ice packs for a scripted fight scene in a film. I never imagined making a sports biopic could be so physically challenging for the cast! From what I gather, Christy’s lead actress certainly had an action-packed experience, with some severe bruises as a souvenir. Despite the pain involved, I can’t wait to watch this fight scene, which features Martin going up against Laila Ali!

In an unusual yet passionate approach, the actress Sydney Sweeney, famously known for her role in “Immaculate,” desired authenticity in her fight scenes during the 2025 movie production. She even opted for real punches instead of simulated ones, truly immersing herself into the character and her work. What an incredible dedication to the craft!

David Michôd, the director, also contributed significantly to the project, and he joined Sweeney and some cast members at TIFF. After filming the Laila Ali fight scene, Michôd anticipated that his lead actress would show up with a swollen eye the next day. However, contrary to expectations, the Primetime Emmy nominee did not arrive with a black eye the following day. This was due to her commitment to recovery and healing.

I literally drowned my face in ice buckets for hours all night…

It’s indeed a tough ordeal, especially when one has to endure hours with their face submerged in ice buckets. Yet, this method is known for its effectiveness in reducing swelling. Given that movie scenes are usually filmed out of sequence, it’s fortunate that Sydney Sweeney knew the necessary steps to maintain a consistent appearance on camera.

Absolutely, it wasn’t just the actress from Eden who threw punches on Christy. In an interview with Variety, she gave credit to her courageous co-stars who didn’t hesitate to step into the ring with her.

Furthermore, the girls exhibited remarkable enthusiasm. They were fearless, ready to engage, and I inquired if it would be acceptable to physically interact and clash fists with them. To which they responded affirmatively. At times, it became quite intense. Spectators reacted with awe, remarking, “Wow, they’re really giving it their all.

That takes some guts! I can’t imagine being part of a film where there’s a lot of physical violence. Yet, if everyone is up for this raw style, it could certainly add authenticity and grittiness to the tale of Christy Martin.

In a candid statement, Katy O’Brien, Sydney Sweeney’s co-star, revealed that she found it all right to receive multiple hits from her during filming, as she felt these real-looking impacts added authenticity to the scenes on camera. It’s fascinating to learn that they were able to execute their roles effectively while enduring genuine blows.

From now on, I’m eagerly looking forward to the Christy Martin vs. Laila Ali fight scene in the movie, and when I eventually watch it, I’ll make sure to remember that Sydney Sweeney utilized multiple ice packs during filming. Here’s to a stellar performance from Sweeney! The upcoming LGBTQ+ sports drama hits theaters nationwide on November 7th.

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2025-09-07 19:09