TORONTO (AP) — Sydney Sweeney got here to the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant wanting to speak about her new movie “Christy,” not her American Eagle advert marketing campaign. After a rapturous response to the film, she’s getting her want.
The 27-year-old, Emmy-nominated actor landed rapid Oscar buzz for her efficiency in David Michôd’s biopic of the boxer Christy Salters Martin. For the position, Sweeney transforms into the feminine boxing trailblazer who emerged out of West Virginia because the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to rise to the highest of her then-nascent sport.
Following a rousing reception from the TIFF viewers Friday, Sweeney stood beside Martin on the stage of the Princess of Wales Theatre, calling it the expertise of her life.
“It was a dream come true, as an actor, as a person,” Sweeney mentioned.
Whereas Martin had a profession adorned with belts and a Sports activities Illustrated cowl, her story is outlined by battle. She was raised to disclaim her homosexual id and as an alternative married her coach, Jim Martin. After years of psychological and bodily abuse, he tried to kill her in 2010, repeatedly stabbing her and taking pictures her. Jim Martin was sentenced to 25 years in jail. He died final November.
Sweeney’s efficiency alongside Ben Foster, who performs Jim Martin, was swiftly hailed as her greatest but. TIFF has lengthy been a launching pad for Oscar campaigns earlier than, and the thunderous reception for “Christy,” and significantly Sweeney, appeared certain so as to add her to the awards dialog.
Regardless, “Christy” provides Sweeney the very best big-screen showcase but of her quickly evolving profession. And provided that she seems all through it briefly darkish hair with a extra muscular construct, it is also her grittiest and least glamorous efficiency thus far.
Martin, praising Sweeney, defined how her boxing persona — bombastic, egotistical — didn’t replicate her shyness or her need to assist others. Since her near-death expertise, Martin has labored to assist home violence survivors
“I have those two parts of my personality. And I think that’s why Sydney Sweeney is doing such an awesome job,” mentioned Martin. “She got to be this totally different person that none of you expected. She wasn’t the beautiful, sexy Sydney. She was the tough, rugged Christy.”
Going into the premiere, Sweeney deflected questions on her current American Eagle advert marketing campaign with the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans” — a pun on having “great genes.” Critics accused the advert for glorifying whiteness. The retailer has mentioned the marketing campaign “is and always was about the jeans.”
Forward of the pageant, Sweeney instructed Self-importance Honest she was going to TIFF to help her film. “I’m not there to talk about jeans,” she mentioned. “The movie’s about Christy and that’s what I’ll be there to talk about.”
“Christy” might be launched in theaters Nov. 7 by its co-producer Black Bear within the firm’s first foray into distribution. Sweeney additionally serves as a producer on “Christy,” with Martin a advisor.
Sweeney mentioned she skilled thrice a day for 2 to a few months to arrange for the boxing scenes. She had a boxing coach, a nutritionist and weight trainers. “And a lot of Chick-fil-A,” she added. “A lot of milkshakes, a lot of protein shakes.”
“But it was incredible being able to completely embody such a powerful woman,” mentioned Sweeney. “I felt even stronger.”
