Matt Damon Dropped to 167 Pounds for 'The Odyssey' After 6-Month Regimen

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 26

Matt Damon said Christopher Nolan’s "The Odyssey" required a six-month transformation that took him from his usual 185-200 pounds down to 167 for a lean, battle-hardened Odysseus.
The 55-year-old actor said every meal was measured and he adopted a strict gluten-free diet, calling it an athlete-like routine that "took over" his life.
Damon said he has stayed gluten-free after filming because he feels better, though the diet forced sacrifices including giving up beer and skipping pasta during a family visit in Italy.
The role also required practical changes beyond weight loss, including growing a real beard for about a year because Nolan wanted water-heavy scenes shot without CGI or a fake beard.
"The Odyssey" opened to about $264 million globally on July 17 — the biggest debut of Nolan’s career — extending Damon and Nolan’s collaboration after "Interstellar" and "Oppenheimer".