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The Odyssey Isn’t 100% Matt Damon’s Bulging Biceps — for One Scene His Stunt Double Was a Woman Who Had ‘The Greatest Arms I’ve Ever Seen’
Actor Matt Damon has revealed that a female stunt performer stood in for him during certain shots in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, an adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic. The revelation, made on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, concerns forced-perspective scenes involving the Laestrygonians, giant armoured warriors who attack Odysseus and his crew, and highlights the extensive use of practical effects and stunt work behind the film's action sequences.
Damon explained that seven-foot-tall stuntmen played the giants while shorter performers stood in for the human soldiers, and for shots where the giants loom over him, he was replaced by a stuntwoman he described as having "the greatest arms I've ever seen." He said he thanked her personally when they met on set. Damon, 55, also discussed his physical preparation for the role, revealing he dropped to 167 pounds, his lightest weight since high school, through strict training and cutting gluten from his diet at Nolan's request for a "lean but strong" look.
In short
- Matt Damon had a female stunt double for forced-perspective giant scenes.
- He praised her arms and thanked her personally on set.
- Damon also detailed his strict diet and weight loss for the role.
Explained simply
Christopher Nolan is directing an adaptation of Homer's Odyssey, the ancient Greek epic about a warrior's long and perilous journey home. Matt Damon plays Odysseus, the story's protagonist.
The film depicts the Laestrygonians, giant armoured warriors from the original story who attack Odysseus and his crew. Creating scenes where these giants tower over human characters requires practical effects and stunt work, including forced-perspective filming techniques where performers of different heights are positioned to create the illusion of size differences.
Professional stunt performers, both male and female, are essential to modern filmmaking for executing complex action sequences safely. These specialists train extensively to perform dangerous manoeuvres whilst standing in for actors during demanding scenes.