Matt Damon’s Transformation for The Odyssey
Matt Damon recently shared details about his weight loss journey, saying he got down to his “high school student” weight for his portrayal of Odysseus in the upcoming film The Odyssey. At 55, he’s reconnecting with director Christopher Nolan, who he previously collaborated with on Interstellar and Oppenheimer.
During an appearance on the podcast “New Heights” with Travis and Jason Kelce, Damon discussed his physical transformation after photos from the set sparked interest. He mentioned feeling “pretty yoked” as he bulked up under the guidance of Ralph Fiennes, reflecting on how drastically his body changed.
“Yeah, I’ve been feeling great,” Damon expressed, adding that he made significant changes, particularly to his diet, which helped him shed weight. Nolan, 55, had specific ideas for Damon’s physique, describing his desire for a character who was lean and strong, which Damon found quite unique.
“Literally, another thing I did with my doctor was that I stopped eating gluten,” he revealed. Previously, he hovered between 185 and 200 pounds but played the entire role at about 167 pounds. Damon chuckled while admitting, “Even in high school, I wasn’t that bright,” noting the considerable effort required in both training and diet.
He stressed the importance of a personal trainer, saying, “The trainers are like, ‘What are we doing?’ And they can do anything.” This kind of structured approach made the physical preparations feel akin to a sports season, as he compared it to the routines of NFL players like the Kelce brothers.
“It’s like part of your day. It’s part of your job,” Damon explained, emphasizing the need to make fitness part of one’s routine. After completing filming for The Odyssey, he decided to maintain his gluten-free diet, joking about having discovered gluten-free beer. “It’s been a while since I’ve had gluten, so I don’t know if that’s good or bad. So that’s a good sign,” he stated playfully.
Damon recounted how he drastically lost 40 to 50 pounds for a different role in the war drama Courage Under Fire, a process he later described as potentially dangerous. He recalled being warned that such extreme weight loss could have permanent effects on his heart.
Reflecting on that experience, he said, “It was too much. I got sick and I don’t want to do it anymore. It’s too hard,” but also acknowledged that the intense physical state contributed to a more authentic performance. However, he enjoyed a lighter experience when he gained weight for The Informant!, saying, “Making weight was very, very easy. It was very, very fun.” He reminisced about indulging in “everything in sight” during that timeframe.
