Phoenix 24
Health now outweighs extreme physical demands.
Los Angeles | July 2026
Matt Damon has said he will no longer gain large amounts of weight for a film role, warning that the physical consequences have become more dangerous with age. His decision follows another demanding transformation for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, in which he lost approximately 15 kilograms to portray Odysseus.
The 55-year-old actor explained that the process involved controlled training, dietary changes and close attention to his health. He worked to build strength while reducing weight, rather than relying on an extreme or unsupervised method.
Damon distinguished that experience from deliberately gaining weight, something he previously did for The Informant!. He now considers rapid weight gain more difficult to reverse and potentially harmful, especially as the body becomes less resilient over time.
His comments reflect a broader shift in Hollywood, where extreme physical transformations are increasingly questioned when performance demands threaten long-term health.
El cuerpo puede servir al personaje, pero no debería sacrificarse por él. / The body may serve the character, but it should not be sacrificed for it.