“They Weren’t Fans” Matt Damon Reveals His Girls and Wife Shaved off His Odysseus Beard Together

Published 07/19/2026, 1:30 PM EDT

via Imago

Matt Damon recently disclosed that the beard he grew for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey did not sit well with his family. The cast of The Odyssey talked about the challenging experience of filming Nolan's big-budget blockbuster in a recent interview. Damon looked back at his physical transformation for the part, which included growing a beard and dropping over thirty pounds, the former of which was comically not the feature for his daughters' and wife's opinion. 

Beyond the demanding physical preparation, one part of Damon's transformation drew a memorable reaction at home. 

Matt Damon reveals how his family reacted to his The Odyssey beard

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Recently, Matt Damon talked about one surprising aspect of his makeover for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey: his facial hair. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the actor disclosed that his daughters and wife did not like the tough appearance he developed for the character. Damon revealed that the family participated in a bizarre ritual after filming was finished. 

“They were not fans. We all shaved it off together at the end,” Damon stated, revealing that shaving it off together became a special family moment.

New York Premiere Of Netflix s The Rip MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA - JANUARY 13: Luciana Barroso Damon and husband Matt Damon wearing a Luca Faloni suit arrive at the New York Premiere Of Netflix s The Rip held at Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on January 13, 2026 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Image Press Agency)

The other aspect of his transformation, which Damon spoke about during the same interview, is the physical transformation he had to undergo to portray his role in The Odyssey. According to the actor, he had to lose more than 30 pounds, and thus his body weight dropped to 167 pounds, which is the same weight as he had during his high school. As he mentioned, the secret to such a great result lies in discipline and not in some tricks.

According to him, the change ultimately came down to balancing what he eats and the amount of exercise he does. He added that his diet was bound to be affected by his gluten allergy naturally. He further stressed that consistency is the key here.

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The physical changes were all part of bringing one of Greek mythology's greatest heroes to life on screen. 

Matt Damon's role as Odysseus explained

Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, the legendary king of Ithaca and the central hero of Homer's The Odyssey. His voyage back home lasts for 20 years, during which he has to deal with many mythological creatures, unfriendly gods, and various dangers along the way. Odysseus is a very intelligent, resilient, and charismatic person, and that is why he is such a recognizable character in Greek mythology.

Credit: Universal Pictures

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The Odyssey is directed by Christopher Nolan. Apart from Damon, the other cast members include Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, and Charlize Theron. As Odysseus, Damon shares the screen with the star-studded cast in what is deemed to be one of Nolan's most ambitious films.

However, it took Matt Damon a lot of time to get into character as the legendary Greek hero, where he had to lose 30 pounds of weight and grow a beard. Although the physical aspect was hard work, the latest comments from Damon revealed how his family felt about the physical aspect after shooting had been completed.

5 Actors Who Could Play Odysseus Better Than Matt Damon in Chris Nolan’s 2026 Epic Adaptation

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Can Matt Damon's portrayal of Odysseus live up to the legendary hero's legacy? Let us know in the comments. 

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Bias Sinha

284 articles

Bias Sinha is an entertainment writer at Netflix Junkie, where she dives into Hollywood and all things celebrity culture with a sharp, timely lens. Previously, she covered pop culture and wrote on NBA for The Times of India. With a double Master’s degree in English and Education, and over 7 years of experience across creative writing, editing, proofreading, and academic content, she blends structure with storytelling ease.

Edited By: Adiba Nizami

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