When creating Christy, the biographical film about the boxer that recently debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, director and his co-writer Mirrah Foulkes aimed to stay as true to the actual events as possible.
Foulkes stated in a joint video interview with Michôd prior to the Toronto premiere, “We felt it was crucial to maintain as much historical accuracy as possible.”
Martin’s life story is notably extraordinary even without dramatization. This West Virginia native emerged as a prominent figure in the mid-1990s, becoming the face of in the mid-1990s, covering and significantly raising the profile and credibility of the sport. However, her athletic achievements were tragically overshadowed by prolonged abuse from her husband and coach, Jim Martin. In 2010, he attempted to murder her, stabbing her multiple times, severing flesh from her leg bone, and shooting her. Following the assault, Martin is reported to have told Jim, Jim received a 25-year prison sentence and passed away last year while incarcerated.
In the film, plays the title role in a physically altered performance by the highly discussed actress. She built muscle to depict a woman who is fierce in the boxing ring yet deeply private in her personal life, having been coerced into concealing her true desires. This portrayal has the potential to garner awards recognition for Sweeney.
Furthermore, Martin herself, now aged 57, played a substantial part in its development.
Michôd clarified, “I had never previously directed a film of this nature, where I was essentially creating a biopic about an actual individual who was present and accessible for guidance.”
Michôd had primarily concentrated on narratives featuring quite distinct characters—“idiot dudes,” in his own words. He gained recognition with the 2010 crime drama Animal Kingdom, followed by projects such as , starring . As he was involved in another production when Christy, slated for a nationwide theatrical release on November 7, was set to begin writing, he assigned Foulkes, his wife, to lead the film’s development.
Foulkes initially met with Martin via Zoom, subsequently visiting her and her wife (and former rival) Lisa Holewyne in Florida. Since Martin remains active in the boxing world, she guided Foulkes through various gyms and boxing matches.
Foulkes explained, “Much of the initial process involved establishing trust with Christy and developing a rapport.” She added, “It was extremely vital to us that she had faith in us and felt included and participating.”
Foulkes sensed that Martin, whose life story was featured in a 2021 episode of Netflix’s Untold documentary series, was initially cautious due to her complex and challenging past.
Foulkes stated, “She believed we would ‘Hollywood-ize’ her life, and she was bracing herself for that.” It was somewhat beneficial that Michôd and Foulkes are Australian, as this distanced them from the entertainment industry she worried might sensationalize her narrative.
However, the filmmakers earned Martin’s confidence to such an extent that she permitted them to incorporate details not widely documented elsewhere. For example, during a period when the Martins faced financial hardship, prior to Christy capturing the interest of renowned boxing promoter Don King, Jim—portrayed unsettlingly by Ben Foster—would bring her to motel rooms to spar with men who paid for the experience. This is depicted in a troubling, albeit somewhat ambiguous, scene. Foulkes commented, “That had certain sexual undertones.”
Foulkes and Michôd found it necessary to implement minor alterations to Martin’s narrative. They combined two of Martin’s former girlfriends into a single composite character (Jess Gabor), a romantic interest from Christy’s younger years who reappears in her life shortly before Jim’s murder attempt, acting as a catalyst for Jim.
Nevertheless, their dedication to authenticity led them to frequently consult Martin, who was present on set for one-third of the filming duration, accompanied by her emotional support dog, Champ. (Champ closely resembles the Pomeranian cast as Christy’s on-screen pet; she has a fondness for that particular breed.)
Regarding Martin, Foulkes remarked, “She proved very helpful whenever we required her, and was quite at ease.”
Michôd mentioned that Sweeney was initially hesitant about Martin’s presence, aiming to preserve her artistic autonomy, but became more receptive once she understood Martin would not attempt to dictate her portrayal.
Michôd further stated, “As soon as Sydney and Christy had a proper introduction, a strong connection rapidly developed.”
Foster, conversely, presented a different situation. His depiction of an older, manipulative Jim, complete with a repulsive combover, was so accurate that individuals who had known the actual person preferred to keep their distance. Michôd recounted, “He unnerved people on set.” He added, “Anyone familiar with Christy and who had known her for a considerable time genuinely wanted to avoid being close to him.”
Foulkes and Michôd were quite apprehensive about presenting the finished film to Martin, and felt relieved when she promptly called them to convey her endorsement.
Foulkes remarked, “Christy is very straightforward.” She continued, “It’s clear when she approves or disapproves of something. We were simply so comforted by her reaction.”
