Pleased as PUNCH

LADIES IN THE RING! ACTRESSES OPEN UP ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LACE UP THEIR GLOVES TO PLAY BOXERS ON SCREEN!

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SYDNEY SWEENEY
Christy

The actress is barely recognizable playing real-life boxer Christy Martin, now 52, in Christy. The film, out in September, chronicles Christy's rise to the top (she was the first woman inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame), as well as the abuse she faced at home from her husband/manager ― including his 2010 attempt on her life (he died in prison).

To prep for the grueling role, Sydney, 27, worked out three times a day - "an hour of weight training in the morning, two to three hours of boxing during the day, and another hour of weight training" - and ate every 30 minutes just to keep the weight on. "Literally, a Chick-fil-A sandwich every hour and a milkshake," she said. "It was amazing to feel like I was turning into someone else."