Matt Damon offers his ‘best advice for being a girl dad: "It's about building self-esteem"

Matt Damon, who has raised four daughters—Alexia, Isabella, Gia, and Stella—recently opened up about his parenting philosophy. 

Speaking with Andy Cohen on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy, the Oscar winner shared his insights on raising girls and debunked the stereotype of the overprotective dad.

Matt and his wife Luciana, who share three daughters—Isabella, 18, Gia, 15, and Stella, 13—along with Luciana’s daughter Alexia, 26, from a previous marriage, usually keep their family life private. 

However, the family made a rare public appearance at the New York premiere of "The Instigators" on Wednesday. The film, releasing globally on August 9, stars Matt alongside his long-time friend Casey Affleck and is produced by Luciana and Ben Affleck.

During the film's press tour, family became a frequent topic of conversation. When asked by Andy Cohen to share his "best advice for being a girl dad," Matt emphasized the importance of building self-esteem. 

"I wouldn’t dare to give anybody advice other than I just try to listen and be helpful. I mean, ultimately, it’s about building self-esteem," he stated. Andy agreed, noting high self-esteem as "the most important thing" for girls.

Discussing dating, Matt challenged the stereotype of the overprotective dad. When asked, "What kind of dad are you when they bring a boy home… You don’t turn all Boston?" Matt replied, "Oh, I’m fine. I’m cool with that." 

He added, "That’s like an old trope that I think people, you know, like to play up. Dads like to joke about it amongst each other I think sometimes, but no."

Matt shared that Alexia has an "incredible boyfriend" who he and Luciana adore, showcasing his supportive approach. 

He emphasized the significance of empowering daughters, recalling his words from 2018 amid the #MeToo Movement: “They’re very clear that their bodies are their own and no one is allowed to touch them. We’re just trying to raise good kids.” 

He added, “It’s about trying to raise kids who are respectful of themselves and others.”