Matt Damon reveals he returned to high school weight for Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey'

Matt Damon has revealed he underwent a dramatic physical transformation to portray the legendary Greek hero Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, returning to his high school weight as part of the demanding preparation for the role.

The Oscar-winning actor, 55, plays King Odysseus in Nolan's adaptation of Homer's epic poem, which follows the warrior's long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War.

To bring the iconic character to life, Damon reduced his weight to 167 pounds—his high school weight while following a strict diet and intensive fitness regimen ahead of filming.

Despite the transformation, the actor emphasized that he approached the process in a healthy way.

"I didn't change it in an unhealthy way," Damon said, explaining that he would no longer consider gaining significant weight for a role, calling that approach far more dangerous at this stage of his career.

Instead, he focused on improving his overall fitness through lifestyle changes, including eliminating gluten from his diet and paying close attention to everything he consumed.

"It was more about just getting really, really physically fit," Damon said. "You have to just be very, very intentional about everything you're putting in your body."

Filming The Odyssey proved to be equally demanding. Production took place across Iceland, Scotland, Greece, Italy and Morocco, where the cast and crew endured challenging outdoor conditions while recreating the mythical world of ancient Greece.

Reflecting on the experience, Damon described the film as the toughest project of his career.

"This movie was by far the hardest, the most challenging movie I've ever been a part of," he said, adding that the production often felt more like a real expedition than a traditional film set.

He praised Nolan for sharing the same demanding conditions as the cast, recalling that the director was just as cold and wet as everyone else during difficult shoots.

By the end of each filming week, Damon said the entire team was exhausted but took pride in what they had accomplished before resting and preparing to do it all again.

Despite the physical challenge, the actor said he "loved every minute" of the experience.

For Damon, however, the most rewarding moment came after one of his daughters watched the completed film.

The actor revealed that his daughter, who usually teases him about his work, surprised him with an emotional reaction after the screening.

"She saw The Odyssey, and at the end she actually turned to me and said, 'Dad, I'm proud of you,'" Damon recalled.

He admitted the comment meant more than any professional praise, saying it made all of the hard work worthwhile.

The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, features an all-star cast that includes Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Himesh Patel, Elliot Page and Samantha Morton. The epic adventure arrives in theaters on July 17.