Sydney Sweeney led a group of high-profile actors on the red carpet Saturday night at the Road To The Golden Globes party during the Toronto International Film Festival, arriving in a strapless little black dress that organizers said showcased a pared-back, classic look.
Sweeney, 27, was joined at the event by Kirsten Dunst, Samara Weaving, Elizabeth Olsen and Imogen Poots, among others. Dunst wore a fitted grey dress with midriff cutouts, Weaving appeared in a sheer black gown, and Olsen chose a PVC dress with a plunging neckline. Channing Tatum, who co-stars with Dunst in the film Roofman, was also at the party.
Sweeney is in Toronto to promote Christy, a biopic in which she portrays former welterweight champion Christy Martin. The film had its festival screening Friday, where Sweeney fought back tears praising Martin and described the experience as "incredible" and inspiring, according to Variety. Martin, 57, told attendees that Sweeney successfully embodied the fighter's tougher, less glamorous side.
Sweeney discussed the physical preparation for the role, saying she trained for months with boxing coaches, weight trainers and nutritionists, and that she continued training during filming. She also said she gained muscle mass with regular protein and milk shakes to better portray the boxer. Christy is scheduled to open in theaters on Nov. 7.
The festival appearances come as Sweeney has faced public scrutiny over an American Eagle marketing campaign launched in July, which critics labeled problematic. An analysis by The New York Times reported that the controversy was amplified by right-wing media after initial criticisms on social platforms by a small number of accounts.
Sweeney's recent film releases, Americana and Eden, underperformed at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, industry analysts said. The reception of Christy will be watched closely as an indicator of her commercial draw.
The actress has also been the subject of tabloid coverage about her personal life. Sweeney split from her fiancé, Jonathan Davino, in March, and publications reported she spent Labor Day weekend with music executive Scooter Braun. The reports have not been independently confirmed by representatives for Sweeney or Braun.
Other actors at the Golden Globes-branded event included Imogen Poots, who chose a backless dress with lace panels, Natalie Portman in a more understated jeans-and-T-shirt look, and Tessa Thompson in a vibrant pink dress. The mix of established and rising talent underscored TIFF’s role as both a showcase for awards-season contenders and a networking hub for upcoming releases.
As film festivals wrap their North American runs, actors and filmmakers are using high-profile events and parties to build momentum for fall releases. For Sweeney, the Toronto appearances — from the screening to the red carpet — represent a concentrated push for Christy ahead of its November opening, while also placing her public controversies and recent box-office performance into sharper contrast with a career still in an early, formative stage.