Matt Damon's 'Odyssey' muscles belonged to stuntwoman Devyn Dalton

Matt Damon's striking physique in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" has been a major talking point, but the actor recently revealed a surprising secret: the iconic muscular arms were not entirely his own. He credited stuntwoman Devyn Dalton, describing her as having "the most impressive arms I have ever seen in my life."

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My double was a woman, a stuntwoman, who had the most impressive arms I have ever seen in my life.

Damon, who underwent an exhaustive physical preparation for the role, including a rigorous exercise routine and a gluten-free diet to reach 76 kilograms, joked that "almost 100% of the movie was my arms." He emphasized the importance of giving credit where it is due, highlighting Dalton's significant contribution to his character's appearance.

Dalton, a 35-year-old Canadian, stands at 1.37 meters tall and weighs approximately 39 kilograms. Her petite stature and powerful arms were crucial for portraying Odysseus as diminutive next to the giants of Greek mythology, the Lestrigonians, who stand over two meters tall. This visual contrast was notably captured in one of the film's official posters.

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Almost 100% of the movie was my arms, but you have to give credit where credit is due.

Since Damon's public acknowledgment, Dalton has garnered significant media attention. "Apparently, my biceps have their own fan club right now, which was definitely not in my predictions for 2026," Dalton told The Guardian. She expressed deep gratitude for Damon's mention, calling it "really special" and a testament to years of hard work and perseverance. "I was incredibly excited and felt incredibly grateful. It's one of those moments where years of hard work and perseverance suddenly pay off," she recalled.

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Apparently, my biceps have their own fan club right now, which was definitely not in my predictions for 2026.

Dalton, who began acting at age nine and trained in dance before becoming a stunt double, hopes to use this newfound spotlight to advocate for women in the stunt industry. "We celebrate men who build careers around being powerful. Why not celebrate women for that too?" she asked The Times. She noted that while figures like Dwayne Johnson and John Cena have built careers on their muscles, she questioned why women couldn't achieve similar recognition. Dalton has previously appeared in "Planet of the Apes," "Percy Jackson & the Olympians," and "The Last of Us," but this marks her first time doubling a male protagonist.

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Knowing that my arms impressed Matt was really something very special. His mention in the press was a surprise. I will always be grateful for it.