Matt Damon pushed himself harder than ever while filming Christopher Nolan’sย ‘The Odyssey‘, but one major change he made for the movie came with a clear limit.ย
Looking back at the demanding production, the Oscar winner admitted there is one extreme thing he has no interest in doing again.
Matt Damon Reveals One Movie Transformation He Will Not Repeat
Matt Damon recently opened up toย PEOPLEย while promotingย ‘The Odyssey‘, which arrives in theaters on July 17. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the epic adapts Homer’s ancient Greek poem and stars Damon as King Odysseus, who spends 20 years trying to return to his wife, played by Anne Hathaway, and son, played by Tom Holland.
The actor called it “the most challenging movie I’ve ever been a part of” and revealed that he dropped to 167 pounds, the same weight he had in high school, to prepare for the physically demanding role. Damon explained that he approached the transformation carefully and avoided unhealthy methods.
โI didnโt change it in an unhealthy way,โ Damon toldย PEOPLE. โI think if I had done the opposite and put weight on. That would have been dangerous and itโs not something Iโll do anymore. I was happy to do it earlier in my life.โ
Damon also followed a strict diet and gave up gluten, along with other foods, to get into peak condition. โIt was more about just getting really physically fit. It just really involves changing your diet, just a whole lifestyle change,โ he said. โYou have to just be very, very intentional about everything youโre putting in your body.โ
Damon Opens Up About His Family Entering A New Chapter
Away from the cameras, Damon admitted he has been thinking a lot about family as his children grow older. The actor shares daughters Isabella, Gia, and Stella with his wife, Luciana Barroso, and is also stepfather to Alexia, Barroso’s daughter from her previous marriage.
In case you missed it: โThe Odysseyโ Star Matt Damon Reveals Why He Finds Odysseusโ โBiggest Flawโ So Relatable
Damon described his family as entering a “new phase of life” because his younger daughters are getting closer to leaving home. โHaving two older kids who are out of the nest and knowing how fast these final years go, weโre trying to be mindful of holding onto what we can,โ he told the outlet.
The actor has previously admitted that living in the present has never come naturally to him. During an earlier interview withย GQ, Damon explained he often worries about what comes next instead of enjoying the moment. โI think about it a lot. Especially as my kids are getting older: really trying to be here now,โ he said.
โAnd itโs hard for me to do that. And I think maybe that has to do with my own nature. It also has to do with this career where youโre always trying to figure out whatโs ahead. It’s because itโs such an uncertain business and a pretty ruthless one. Those kinds of things have conspired to, I think, maybe take me out of where I am. Maybe more than Iโd like.โ
Asย ‘The Odyssey‘ย gets ready to hit theaters, Matt Damon is looking back on one of the toughest roles of his career with no regrets. The demanding transformation tested him physically, but it also helped him realize there are some sacrifices he no longer wants to make for a film.ย
You might also like to read: Christopher Nolan Reveals the Unexpected Martin Scorsese Movie That Changed His Vision for โThe Odysseyโ
