For Matt Damon, a career full of big movies and critical praise has taken a backseat to a tough new challenge. He wanted to win over his hardest critic, his own daughter.
In an interview with People Magazine, the 55-year-old actor shared a personal moment that made the tough months of filming Christopher Nolan‘s ‘The Odyssey completely worth it. After going to the premiere of the big movie, one of his four daughters turned to him and said five words that left him shocked.
“She saw The Odyssey, and at the end of it, she actually turned to me, and she said, ‘Dad, I’m proud of you,’ ” Damon said. “She’s never said anything like that because we joke around a lot, and so at that point, I was like, ‘I’m good.’ It was all worth it.”
How Matt Damon’s Teasing Relationship With His Daughters Keeps Him Humble
The moment meant a lot because Damon and his kids usually have a fun, teasing relationship. He has talked about this with humor and respect before. He has also spoken about the unique challenge of raising daughters and how their intelligence and quick wit keep him on his toes.
“It’s been just a real gift how sophisticated women are and how fast they are,” Damon has said. “I used to joke by the time my daughter was 2 years old she had me totally wrapped around my finger. I was like, ‘Oh, I get it now, men never had a chance.‘”
He added, “I was raised with just a brother and so it was a very different energy and different way to grow up“.
The Brutal Filming Conditions and Family Sacrifice Behind ‘The Odyssey’
Getting to that moment of pride was not easy. Damon has been open about how hard it was to film Nolan’s version of the ancient Greek poem. The shoot took the cast and crew to places like Greece, Iceland, and Morocco. Damon called it “more like an expedition than a movie.” “This movie was by far the hardest movie, the most challenging movie I’ve ever been a part of,” Damon told the outlet. He said the cast and crew dealt with harsh weather, cold, and rain.
In case you missed it: Christopher Nolan Reveals the Unexpected Martin Scorsese Movie That Changed His Vision for ‘The Odyssey’
The busy schedule also meant personal sacrifice. Damon said he had to break a long-standing family rule for this project. “We’ve always had a two-week rule. This was the first time that we ever had to violate it,” he said.
This rule was his promise not to be away from his family for more than two weeks. However, there were times he was gone for three and a half weeks. He said his wife and daughters handled it well. “I’m so proud of the movie, but I’m so proud of them for really encouraging me,” he said.
Matt Damon’s Family Support
Damon shares his daughters, Alexia, 27, Isabella, 20, Gia, 17, and Stella, 15, with his wife, Luciana Barroso. The family has traveled with Damon over the years to support his career. They were all at ‘The Odyssey‘ London premiere earlier this month.
His family often gives him a hard time in a loving way. Damon has joked about being “uncool” in his kids’ eyes, especially his daughter Isabella, whom he calls “one of the funniest people I know.” So getting that admission of pride from a child who usually keeps him humble was a big achievement.
‘The Odyssey,’ starring Damon as the Greek king, comes out in theaters on July 16.
You might also want to read: “All I Can Do Is Make the Best Film”: Christopher Nolan Refuses to Bow to Online Critics Over ‘The Odyssey’ Casting
