Matt Damon shares emotional tribute to lifelong friend Ben Affleck
The actor reveals Affleck called him for an hour after watching 'The Odyssey' praising every detail of the film
Matt Damon has opened up about his decades-long friendship with Ben Affleck, describing the Oscar-winning filmmaker as "one of the great loves" of his life.
During a joint interview with MTV UK alongside his The Odyssey co-star Zendaya, Damon reflected on the bond he has shared with Affleck since they met as children growing up in Boston.
The pair have spent more than four decades together, building one of Hollywood’s most enduring friendships while collaborating on projects including Good Will Hunting, Dogma, Air and The Rip.
Looking at a photo of Affleck during the interview, Damon joked about his longtime friend’s pose before speaking about what their relationship means to him.
“Look at that dashing picture of him. He’s really giving Blue Steel in that one,” Damon quipped.
“We’ve been through a whole hell of a lot together, and he’s one of the great loves of my life,” he added.
Damon also revealed that one of his most memorable moments following the completion of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey was receiving a phone call from Affleck after he watched the film.
According to the actor, Affleck spent nearly an hour discussing the movie in remarkable detail.
“I got a phone call from him that I think I’ve been waiting 45 years to get,” Damon said.
“He didn’t stop talking for an hour. It was like he’d seen the movie 20 times. He got absolutely everything. Every detail.”
The actor said Affleck’s enthusiastic response ranked among the three most meaningful reactions he received to the film, alongside those of his wife, Luciana, and his daughter Isabella.
Damon admitted Isabella is usually his toughest critic and recalled her brutally honest reaction to his 2016 fantasy film The Great Wall.
“She said, ‘Dad, I’m proud of you,’” Damon recalled before joking about how she once referred to The Great Wall simply as The Wall because, in her words, “there’s nothing great about that movie.”
Because of his daughter’s honesty, Damon said hearing her praise The Odyssey felt especially rewarding.
Affleck has also spoken publicly about his excitement for Nolan’s epic, previously revealing that he went to a movie theater specifically to watch the film’s trailer, highlighting his support for his longtime friend’s latest project.