Matt Damon shocked fans with female stunt double revelation in ‘The Odyssey’

Actor credited stunt performer for key giant sequence, praising her remarkable strength and unforgettable performance

Matt Damon has surprised fans with an unexpected behind the scenes revelation from Christopher Nolan's blockbuster The Odyssey, admitting that some of the film's most talked about action shots featured a female stunt double rather than the actor himself.

The Oscar winner shared the story during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast while discussing the demanding production of Nolan's epic adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek poem. Although many viewers praised Damon's impressive physical transformation for his portrayal of Odysseus, the actor said one memorable sequence required an entirely different approach.

Damon explained that the production used forced perspective techniques to create the towering Laestrygonians, the mythical giants encountered by Odysseus during his perilous journey home after the Trojan War. According to the actor, performers standing in as the giants were more than seven feet tall, while the production cast much shorter stunt performers to help create the dramatic visual illusion.

That decision resulted in Damon being paired with a female stunt performer for several shots.

Laughing about the experience, Damon said she had "the greatest arms I've ever seen," giving full credit to the stunt performer whose physical appearance matched what the production required for the carefully constructed camera angles. He added that while most of the arm shots seen throughout the film belonged to him, those specific scenes deserved recognition for the stunt double's contribution.

The actor also recalled meeting her in the catering tent during filming, where he thanked her personally for all the work she had put into the production. Damon said the collaboration helped bring Nolan's ambitious vision to life and highlighted the often overlooked contributions made by stunt professionals.

The sequence has attracted attention because many viewers assumed every close up of Damon's muscular physique belonged exclusively to the actor. His candid explanation has instead highlighted how modern filmmaking often relies on carefully planned practical techniques alongside visual effects to achieve convincing fantasy imagery.

The Odyssey follows King Odysseus as he attempts to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War, facing mythical creatures, dangerous enemies and impossible challenges along the way. Damon leads an ensemble cast that includes Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, Samantha Morton, Corey Hawkins, Travis Scott, Benny Safdie and John Leguizamo.

Christopher Nolan has been widely praised for combining large scale practical filmmaking with cutting edge technology throughout the production. The forced perspective method described by Damon reflects techniques that have been used in cinema for decades, allowing filmmakers to manipulate apparent size differences without relying entirely on computer generated imagery.

The revelation arrived shortly after The Odyssey enjoyed an enormous opening weekend at the global box office, earning more than $264m worldwide following its July 17 release. The film has quickly become one of the biggest commercial successes of Nolan's career, with audiences praising its ambitious scale, visual spectacle and performances.