Matt Damon is sharing some “The Odyssey” production secrets with the world.
The iconic actor who plays Odysseus in the 2026 action fantasy film has revealed that behind his parts in the many stunts showcased in the movie was a talented stuntwoman. He recently opened up about the aftereffects of the hot action scenes and costumes on his body post-filming.
Matt Damon previously shared his experience being part of the project, highlighting the lifestyle changes he had to undergo to fit into his role.
Damon spilled the tea on one of the scenes in Christopher Nolan’s 2026 hit film. He disclosed that he had a female stunt double who was the one pictured in the scene supposedly depicting his biceps.
“When we did the forced perspective stuff of the Laestrygonians, there were these kind of stuntmen who were all seven feet,” the actor shared before continuing to say, “and then they got stuntmen who were under five feet.”
At this point, Damon dropped the bombshell, “and so my double was a woman, a female stunt performer who had the greatest arms I’ve ever seen,” he told Josh Horowitz during their chat on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast.
The iconic screen star recalled meeting his stunt double, Devyn Dalton, for the first time. He said he went up to her, hugged her, and thanked her for all the work she put into his character in the film.
Why Did Production Opt For A Female Stunt Performer?
@happysadconfused Matt Damon’s stunt double on the Odyssey was a woman
For the scenes where Odysseus and his clan encounter the Laestrygonians, who are a tribe of man-eating giants, it was necessary to portray a significant size difference.
During their decade-long journey home to Ithaca, they come across these giants, and the movie had to properly depict how huge the giants were in comparison to Odysseus.
Going along with a female stunt double for Damon was the best bet. He revealed that “those shots in the movie where you see these giants looming over me and (that’s her).”
“So it was almost 100 percent my arms in the movie, but you gotta give it up where it’s due,” Damon said, praising Dalton once again.
The Daily Mail shared that Dalton, per her social media, confirmed her role in the film. She expressed gratitude for being a part of the project, noting that she made memories she will never forget.
Matt Damon Shared The Physical Downside To Action Scenes
Damon shared that the physicality of shooting intense action sequences on “The Odyssey” took a toll on him and other members of the cast who are “middle-aged people.” He cited running through the stony ground in one of the movie settings, Troy, in sandals
He recently appeared on “Radio Andy,” where Andy Cohen asked if all the action sequences were filmed with the actors wearing sandals, to which he replied yes.
Due to their age, the location for the scenes, and the intensity of those shoots, Damon and many of his castmates were left with back pain and body aches.
“Our feet were all scuffed up, but more than the little scratches and cuts on your feet, it was the back pain for us. It was a heavy Advil movie in those weeks when we were doing that action stuff,” the movie star disclosed.
The Hollywood Star Did Not Get Special Treatment On ‘The Odyssey’ Set
Damon’s A-lister status and high rank in the entertainment industry did not matter while he was on the set of the hit film. He revealed that he was treated just like everyone else, including the director, Nolan.
“There was no special treatment. If you’re out on a boat in the middle of the ocean and you get caught in a storm, you get wet with everybody else,” Damon recalled.
Speaking to PEOPLE, the entertainer explained that everyone was treated equally in all aspects, up to their food. “Nobody’s getting a hot beverage that you’re not getting,” he cited.
The actor noted that the end goal of the equal treatment made all the members of the cast and crew feel like they were “all in it together,” and personally, Damon felt like he bonded with everyone as they went through the challenges each day presented on set.
The cast featured other industry stars like Tom Holland and his wife, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron.
Matt Damon Cannot Make Certain Sacrifices For Hollywood Any More
While looking back on his experience on “The Odyssey,” Damon revealed how physically demanding his role was for him. He stated that to embrace his role fully, he had to lose a large amount of weight by watching his diet and lifestyle.
The entertainer shared he took the healthy weight-loss route and lost 167 pounds. Looking back, Damon shared that if he had to gain as much weight as he lost for a movie role, the outcome would have been “dangerous.”
“It’s not something I’ll do anymore. I was happy to do it earlier in my life,” the Hollywood star disclosed, adding that he was intentional about his weight-loss journey for his on-screen role. As shared by The Blast, the 55-year-old movie star had to cut out gluten from his diet, change some aspects of his lifestyle, and get really fit.
