Matt Damon Reveals Female Stunt Performer Was His Double in 'The Odyssey'

Matt Damon shared a surprising detail about the filming of his upcoming movie 'The Odyssey,' revealing that a female stunt performer was his double for scenes involving giants. The actor explained that the film utilized forced perspective to create the illusion of colossal Laestrygonians, a race of giants from Homer's epic poem.

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When we did the forced perspective thing with the Laestrygonians... there were stunt guys who were like seven feet tall and then they hired stunt doubles who were less than five feet.

During an appearance on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast, Damon described how the production employed stunt performers of significantly different heights to achieve the visual effect. "There were stunt guys who were like seven feet tall and then they hired stunt doubles who were less than five feet," he said. This height difference was crucial in making the giants appear imposing against Odysseus and his warriors.

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My double was a woman, a stuntwoman, who had the best arms I’ve ever seen.

Damon specifically highlighted the contribution of his female stunt double, whom he praised for having "the best arms I’ve ever seen." He clarified that while his own arms are visible in nearly all the shots, the visual impact of the giants towering over him was largely thanks to her performance. "In those shots where you see these giants over me, that was her," Damon stated, emphasizing the importance of giving credit where it is due.

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In those shots where you see these giants over me, that was her.

The Laestrygonians in Homer's 'The Odyssey' are depicted as formidable foes who attack Odysseus's fleet and devour his crew. For the film adaptation, director Christopher Nolan opted for a visual interpretation that presented them as colossal warriors in medieval-inspired armor, a departure from traditional mythological depictions. The sequence occurs after Odysseus's encounter with the Cyclops, as his crew lands on an island seeking provisions, only to find themselves facing a deadly threat.

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I’ve got almost 100% my arms in the movie, but you have to give credit where credit is due.