Matt Damon on His Dramatic Weight Loss for The Odyssey
Matt Damon has never been one to shy away from physical transformations for his roles, but his latest commitment for The Odyssey may be one of the most demanding of his career. The Oscar-winning actor recently opened up about the intense training, disciplined diet, and months of preparation required to portray the legendary hero Odysseus in director Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic.
Damon shared his experience during an appearance on Jason and Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast, where the conversation turned to his physical condition for the film. Jason Kelce mentioned that he had seen photos of Damon circulating online, noting that the actor looked “pretty yoked.” Damon laughed at the remark before confirming that the transformation was very real—and very intentional.
According to the Good Will Hunting star, Nolan had a specific vision for how Odysseus should look on screen. “He wanted me lean but strong,” Damon explained, describing the director’s desire for a physique that reflected both physical power and the hardened endurance of a legendary warrior. While the phrase may sound simple, Damon admitted that achieving that balance required months of relentless effort.
To reach the required form, Damon committed to a strict fitness regimen paired with a tightly controlled diet. One of the biggest changes was eliminating gluten entirely from his meals. The results were dramatic. “I used to walk around between 185 and 200 pounds,” he revealed. “For The Odyssey, I was down to 167. I haven’t been that light since high school.” For an actor known for a wide range of physically demanding roles—from the Bourne franchise to The Martian—this marked one of the leanest versions of himself ever put on screen.
Damon emphasized that the transformation was not quick or easy. It involved consistent daily training, careful nutrition, and a high level of discipline. “It was a lot of training and a really strict diet,” he said, underscoring the level of commitment required to reshape his body so drastically for the role.
When Travis Kelce asked whether he worked with a trainer to achieve the transformation, Damon confirmed that he partnered with a professional capable of guiding him through the process. “I worked with a trainer who can do anything,” he said. “It’s just having a clear goal and setting it.” For Damon, the key was not just physical strength but also mental focus—knowing exactly what the role demanded and staying committed until the target was reached.
Reflecting on the experience, Damon compared his preparation to the kind of discipline required by professional athletes. Drawing a parallel to the Kelce brothers’ NFL training, he described the process as feeling like a “season” in itself. “It becomes part of your routine, part of your job,” he explained. “You structure your whole day around it. That’s the physical side of getting ready.” Much like an athlete preparing for competition, Damon built his daily schedule around workouts, recovery, and nutrition in order to be fully prepared when filming began.
Beyond the immediate demands of the role, Damon also revealed that the experience permanently changed some of his lifestyle habits. He has remained gluten-free since completing the transformation, though he admitted he’s not entirely sure whether it still makes a noticeable difference. “It’s been so long since I’ve had gluten, I can’t even tell if it’s good or not anymore,” he joked. “So I guess that’s a good sign.”
With The Odyssey, Damon once again demonstrates the level of dedication that has defined his career for decades. His physical transformation for the role of Odysseus is not just about aesthetics—it reflects a deeper commitment to authenticity and storytelling. As anticipation continues to build for Nolan’s adaptation of the legendary tale, Damon’s behind-the-scenes discipline offers a glimpse into the extraordinary effort that goes into bringing such iconic characters to life on screen.