Sydney Sweeney lands a knockout at TIFF with ‘Christy,’ stoking Oscar buzz

TORONTO (AP) — Sydney Sweeney came to the Toronto International Film Festival wanting to talk about her new film “Christy,” not her American Eagle ad campaign. After a rapturous response to the movie, she’s getting her wish.

The 27-year-old, Emmy-nominated actor landed immediate Oscar buzz for her performance in David Michôd’s biopic of the boxer Christy Salters Martin. For the role, Sweeney transforms into the female boxing trailblazer who emerged out of West Virginia as the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to rise to the top of her then-nascent sport.

Following a rousing reception from the TIFF audience Friday, Sweeney stood beside Martin on the stage of the Princess of Wales Theatre, calling it the experience of her life.

“It was a dream come true, as an actor, as a person,” Sweeney said.

While Martin had a career decorated with belts and a Sports Illustrated cover, her story is defined by struggle. She was raised to deny her gay identity and instead married her trainer, Jim Martin. After years of psychological and physical abuse, he attempted to kill her in 2010, repeatedly stabbing her and shooting her. Jim Martin was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He died last November.

Sweeney’s performance alongside Ben Foster, who plays Jim Martin, was swiftly hailed as her best yet. TIFF has long been a launching pad for Oscar campaigns before, and the thunderous reception for “Christy,” and particularly Sweeney, seemed sure to add her to the awards conversation.

Regardless, “Christy” gives Sweeney the best big-screen showcase yet of her rapidly evolving career. And given that she appears throughout it in short dark hair with a more muscular build, it's also her grittiest and least glamorous performance to date.

Martin, praising Sweeney, explained how her boxing persona — bombastic, egotistical — didn’t reflect her shyness or her desire to help others. Since her near-death experience, Martin has worked to help domestic violence survivors

“I have those two parts of my personality. And I think that’s why Sydney Sweeney is doing such an awesome job,” said 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 about her recent American Eagle ad campaign with the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans” — a pun on having “great genes.” Critics accused the ad for glorifying whiteness. The retailer has said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans.”

Ahead of the festival, Sweeney told Vanity Fair she was going to TIFF to support her movie. “I’m not there to talk about jeans,” she said. “The movie’s about Christy and that’s what I’ll be there to talk about.”

“Christy” will be released in theaters Nov. 7 by its co-producer Black Bear in the company’s first foray into distribution. Sweeney also serves as a producer on “Christy,” with Martin a consultant.

Sweeney said she trained three times a day for two to three months to prepare 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,” said Sweeney. “I felt even stronger.”

A Sydney Sweeney ad for jeans is seen at an American Eagle Outfitters, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Bellevue, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Sydney Sweeney poses for photographs as she walks red carpet at the premiere of "Christy" at the Toronto International Film Festival, in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey /The Canadian Press via AP)

Sydney Sweeney and Christy Salters pose for photographs as they walk the red carpet at the premiere of "Christy" at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey /The Canadian Press via AP)

Sydney Sweeney poses for photographs as she walks the red carpet at the premiere of "Christy" at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey /The Canadian Press via AP)

Sydney Sweeney poses for photographs as she walks the red carpet at the premiere of "Christy" at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey /The Canadian Press via AP)

ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims from around the world congregated on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the second official day of the annual Islamic pilgrimage, considered the pinnacle of the Hajj.

Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and surrounding plain for intense prayers and worship that often mark a spiritual peak for them. They fervently murmured prayers and poured their hearts out in supplications. Many raised their hands in worship. It is common for pilgrims on that day, some with tears streaming down their faces, to ask God for forgiveness, mercy, blessings and good health.

The Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is required once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to perform it.

For pilgrims, the Hajj, performed over several days, can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. As they brave the intense heat to perform religious rituals, many pilgrims have been using umbrellas for shade.

A Saudi official said on Friday that more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in the country from abroad.

This year, Muslims have been pouring into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related uncertainty in the region.

The U.S. military said Monday that it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats used to lay mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely." Iran on Tuesday denounced the most recent U.S. strikes as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability” as negotiations pressed on toward a possible deal to end the war.

For many, performing the Hajj can be a realization of a lifelong dream as they spend years hoping and praying to one day be able to undertake the pilgrimage or saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the trip.

“This happens once in a lifetime,” Mohammad Asal, an Egyptian pilgrim, said. “People here have prepared their prayers, hoping that God will respond to them, because we know that ... the most important ritual of the Hajj is being in Arafat.”

The Hajj brings together large numbers of Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and socioeconomic classes, creating a sense of unity for many. It’s a mass, communal experience, with Muslims performing rituals together. But it is also deeply personal, as every pilgrim brings their own yearnings and experiences.

“It was incredible,” Ahmed Sufyan, a pilgrim from the United States, said on Tuesday. “The unity and peace that we feel is something I’ve never experienced before,” he added via WhatsApp.

“Our wishes are many,” Mohammad Obaid, a Sudanese pilgrim, said, adding he was praying for Sudan and Muslims everywhere.

Fam reported from Winter Park, Florida.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

A Muslim pilgrim pray atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims walk towards the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims are silhouetted as they pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims read a copy of Islam's holy book Quran atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)