Matt Damon embarked on his own epic odyssey, shedding nearly 40 pounds to embody the iconic character of Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey. The Oscar winner shared this revelation with Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce on their New Heights podcast on January 7th.
"I was already in great shape," Matt, 55, told the football pros. "But I lost a lot of weight for this role." He added with a chuckle, "I don't want to bore the s--- out of you." Jason, however, quickly reassured him, "None of this is boring at all."
To achieve his transformation, Matt not only spent countless hours in the gym but also made a major change to his diet. "I stopped eating gluten thanks to my doctor's advice," he explained. "I used to weigh between 185 and 200 pounds, and I shot the entire movie at 167 pounds." He continued, "I haven't been that light since high school, so it was a lot of training and a really strict diet."
The Good Will Hunting star, who shares four children with his wife Luciana Damon, worked with a trainer to achieve the desired look for the film. He noted that having a clear goal helped them both immensely. Moreover, getting and maintaining his physique had become an integral part of Matt's daily routine. "When I do that or when I did the Jason Bourne movies, it feels almost like a season," he shared with Travis and Jason. "It's just part of your day, it's just part of your job."
Now that filming for The Odyssey is over, Matt has continued his gluten-free lifestyle. Travis, whose fiancée Taylor Swift is a prolific bread maker, joked that he was "staying strong." However, Matt noted that it hasn't been as difficult as one might expect. "I'm gluten-free everything," he said. "I even found a gluten-free beer. It's been so long since I've had gluten that I can't tell if it's good or not. That's a good sign."
But Matt isn't the only one who's talked about his body transformation. Even his best friend Ben Affleck has been asked about Matt's fit figure. "I just went to the premiere and every interviewer was like they found the secret of life," Ben joked with Travis and Jason on New Heights in April. He added that interviewers wouldn't stop showing him photos of Matt's six-pack abs. "I was like, 'The one time he got in shape.'" It looks good," the 53-year-old said. "It ain't easy when you touch 50. You boys will see."
