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The Oscar-winning 1992 movie Matt Damon lost to his arch-nemesis: “That was a big, big deal”
Matt Damon once lost the role of Charlie Simms in the 1992 film Scent of a Woman to Chris O’Donnell, whom the article portrays as his early-career rival. The setback mattered because the film became a major showcase for O’Donnell and earned Al Pacino an Academy Award, while Damon was still struggling to establish himself.
Several actors from School Ties, including Damon, Ben Affleck, Brendan Fraser and O’Donnell, auditioned for the part, reportedly creating tension on set. Although Scent of a Woman was a significant success, Damon ultimately built the more enduring career, later suggesting his resentment towards O’Donnell through an unsuccessful attempt to replace him as Robin in Batman Forever.
In short
- Chris O’Donnell won a role Matt Damon wanted.
- Scent of a Woman became a major career milestone.
- Damon eventually achieved the longer-lasting Hollywood career.
Explained simply
Scent of a Woman is a 1992 American drama about Charlie Simms, a student who spends a weekend with Frank Slade, a blind retired army officer played by Al Pacino. Chris O’Donnell played Charlie, while several young actors from the earlier film School Ties, including Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, had also auditioned for the role.
The part brought O’Donnell wider attention, and Pacino won the Academy Award for best actor for his performance. Damon was still trying to establish himself as an actor, so missing out on a prominent film role was a notable setback at that point in his career.