Matt Damon has opened up about the intense physical preparation required to play King Odysseus Christopher NolanThe epic adaptation of the play, which reveals an extreme approach to cinema that will never be followed again. The Oscar-winning actor spoke about the grueling demands of bringing Homer’s ancient Greek poem to the screen, describing the experience as the most difficult of his entire career.According to PEOPLE magazine’s cover story this week, Damon prepared for the role by dropping down to 167 pounds, his high school weight. The dramatic transformation required major lifestyle modifications beyond simple weight loss. “I didn’t change it in an unhealthy way. I think if I had done the opposite and put on weight, that would have been dangerous, and it’s not something I’m going to do anymore. I was happy to do it earlier in my life,” Damon told the publication.
Damon underwent an intense diet and fitness regimen to bring King Odysseus to life in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Image credit (Instagram).
To play the tortured and complicated Odysseus, who travels 20 years to return to his wife and son, Damon gave up gluten “among other things,” he says. Dietary changes were part of a comprehensive lifestyle overhaul. “It was more about getting really physically fit, which really involves changing your diet, just a complete lifestyle change. You just have to be very, very intentional about everything you’re putting in your body,” Damon explained.
The physically demanding shoot across several continents
The production of ‘The Odyssey’ pushed both the cast and crew to their absolute limits. Filming took place in Iceland, Scotland, Greece, Italy and Morocco, requiring the entire crew to navigate difficult locations and extreme weather conditions. Damon found inspiration in the collective commitment of everyone involved to bring the epic vision to life.“This movie was by far the hardest movie, the most challenging movie I’ve ever been a part of,” says Damon, describing how those involved were “absolutely pushing themselves against what they thought was possible.” Rather than a traditional cinematic experience, the production felt fundamentally different. “It really felt more like an expedition than a movie,” notes Damon, emphasizing the exploratory and grueling nature of the venture.The harsh conditions tested everyone equally. “And if you were cold and wet, you’d just turn around and look, and Chris was just as cold and just as wet and going through it,” Damon said, noting how the director shared the physical and emotional demands placed on the cast and crew. At the end of each week, burnout sets in across the team. “People were just fuming. But that sense of euphoria when we’d get to the end of a week, we’d look around and it was a real sense of pride like, ‘OK, this is another week.’And I would go home like everyone else and just sleep, rest and be ready for Monday. I loved every minute of it,” he recalled.
Damon revealed his daughter’s rare words of encouragement after watching The Odyssey made all the challenges of filming the epic worthwhile. Image credit (Instagram).
The rare approval of his daughter
Despite the grueling nature of the production, the most significant recognition came from Damon’s own family. The actor has a daughter who maintains a refreshingly irreverent attitude towards her professional achievements. “I have a daughter who is not at all reverent of my movies and she loves to give me s—,” says Damon. “He saw The Odyssey and at the end he turned to me and said, ‘Dad, I’m proud of you.’‘”Damon laughed as he recounted the moment, explaining how important the rare compliments were. “She’s never said anything about it, because we joke around a lot. At that point I said, ‘I’m fine. It was all worth it,'” she concluded, suggesting that her daughter’s genuine admiration vindicated every sacrifice and challenge she faced during production.‘The Odyssey’ opens in cinemas on July 17.