Matt Damon Reveals the One Ingredient He Cut Out to Drop 30 Pounds for His New Christopher Nolan Movie

Matt Damon is no stranger to physically transforming himself for a role, but his latest metamorphosis might be his most disciplined yet. The acclaimed actor recently revealed that he shed approximately 13 kilograms (roughly 30 pounds) for his upcoming lead performance. This time, however, the weight loss wasn’t just about calorie counting or excessive cardio. Damon credits a specific dietary elimination for helping him reach a weight he hasn’t seen since his teenage years.

The revelation came during a candid conversation on the “New Heights” podcast, hosted by NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce. Damon appeared on the show to discuss his career and his highly anticipated project, The Odyssey. During the chat, Jason Kelce mentioned seeing photos from the set where Damon looked notably “yoked” and fit. The actor confirmed that he was indeed in the best shape of his recent life, having adhered to a rigorous regimen to satisfy the director’s specific vision.

Damon explained that the film’s director, Christopher Nolan, had a very precise look in mind for the character of Odysseus. Nolan didn’t want the hero to look bulky or overly muscular like a modern superhero. Instead, the goal was a physique that was “lean but strong,” reflecting the weary but capable nature of the mythological figure. To achieve this, Damon had to overhaul his lifestyle completely, treating his preparation with the intensity of a professional athlete.

The key to this transformation was a dietary change suggested by his doctor. Damon disclosed that he completely removed gluten from his diet. He noted that this wasn’t just a fad choice but a medical decision that yielded drastic results. Before filming began, the actor’s weight fluctuated between 185 and 200 pounds. By the time production was underway, he had dropped to 167 pounds.

He admitted to the Kelce brothers that he hadn’t weighed 167 pounds since he was in high school. The process required a combination of this strict nutritional adjustment and a consistent training schedule. Damon compared his routine to an NFL season, describing how the workout and diet became simply “part of the day.” It wasn’t something he had to force; it became the structure around which his entire life revolved during production.

Interestingly, Damon has decided to stick with this dietary change even after the cameras stopped rolling. He told the podcast hosts that he is “done” with gluten entirely. He even joked about finding a gluten-free beer that he enjoys. Because it has been so long since he consumed gluten, he can’t even tell if the substitute tastes different, which he takes as a good sign.

This isn’t the first time Matt Damon has put his body through the wringer for art. He is famous in Hollywood for his commitment to physical realism. In the mid-90s, he gained notoriety for his role in Courage Under Fire, where he played a heroin-addicted soldier. For that part, he lost between 40 and 50 pounds in a way that was far less healthy.

Back then, he restricted his diet to nothing but chicken breasts and ran 13 miles a day without proper medical supervision. That extreme approach caused him severe health issues, and doctors later told him he could have permanently damaged his heart. Fortunately, his preparation for The Odyssey was monitored by professionals and focused on sustainability rather than starvation.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Damon has also packed on the pounds when necessary. For the 2009 film The Informant!, he gained 30 pounds to play Mark Whitacre. He has often described that experience as much more enjoyable, as he simply ate everything in sight. However, at 55 years old, shedding weight is significantly harder than gaining it, making his current physique all the more impressive.

The Odyssey marks a major reunion for Damon and Christopher Nolan. The pair recently worked together on the Oscar-winning biopic Oppenheimer, where Damon played General Leslie Groves. They also collaborated on the sci-fi epic Interstellar. This new project, however, places Damon squarely in the lead as the legendary Greek king navigating a perilous journey home.

The film is shaping up to be one of the biggest cinematic events of the year. Beyond Damon, the cast is stacked with A-list talent. Tom Holland is set to play Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, while Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson have also been confirmed for key roles. The movie is described as a massive production, utilizing IMAX technology to capture the epic scale of Homer’s ancient poem.

Universal Pictures has scheduled The Odyssey for a theatrical release on July 17. The anticipation is high, not just for Nolan’s direction, but to see Damon’s portrayal of one of literature’s most enduring characters. His physical transformation suggests a gritty, grounded take on the myth, moving away from the fantastical and toward the visceral struggle of survival.

Fans of Damon have plenty to look forward to beyond this historical epic. The actor continues to produce high-quality content through Artists Equity, the production company he co-founded with his longtime friend and collaborator Ben Affleck. Their recent success with the sports drama Air proved that adult-skewing dramas still have a place in modern cinema.

As Damon moves into this next phase of his career, his willingness to adapt—both physically and creatively—remains his strongest asset. Whether he is playing a genius janitor, a lost astronaut, or an ancient Greek king, he commits fully to the illusion. His latest weight loss is just another example of the discipline that has kept him at the top of the industry for three decades.

We would love to hear what you think about actors undergoing such extreme physical changes for their roles—let us know your opinion in the comments.