Matt Damon & Tom Holland Share Jealousy Over Christopher Nolan’s Praise for Zendaya in ‘The Odyssey’

Matt Damon recently shared a humorous yet candid moment from the set of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film ‘The Odyssey’, revealing that both he and Tom Holland felt a twinge of jealousy when Nolan praised Zendaya in a manner they seldom witnessed. The remarks were made during an interview featured in an Elle article by Alexis Okeowo, where Zendaya is also highlighted alongside the cast discussing their experiences on the film.

Damon noted that Nolan is typically reserved with his feedback, rarely offering praise. Instead of enthusiastic reactions, he tends to keep his comments straightforward and minimal. Damon explained that even a simple “good” from Nolan signifies that an actor has performed well.

However, things took a different turn when Zendaya was on set. Damon recalled instances where Zendaya delivered a scene, prompting Nolan to react in a way that diverged from his usual demeanor. He mentioned that Nolan would occasionally halt a take to declare “perfect.”

For Damon and Holland, that particular word became a lighthearted source of jealousy and a running joke throughout filming.

“Chris is known for being very circumspect. So when you do a take, it’s not like he says, ‘That was great.’ He’ll go, ‘Yep, good. Okay.’ And that is the equivalent of the greatest praise you could ever get,” Damon expressed in the Elle feature, as reported by Alexis Okeowo.

He further explained that Zendaya receiving a “perfect” from Nolan became a frequent topic of discussion between him and Holland during the shoot.

“Zendaya, on the other hand—there were takes where she did one thing, she did this amazing scene, and he said, ‘Cut.’ And then he went, ‘Perfect.’ And literally, Tom [Holland] and I were obsessed with this. She got a ‘perfect’? I’ve never even gotten a ‘great.’ She got a ‘perfect’? He and I bitched about it for the entire rest of the film.”

Damon mentioned that their jealousy was playful rather than serious, stemming from co-stars who were genuinely impressed by Zendaya’s performance. He added that both he and Holland frequently compared notes after takes, particularly regarding Nolan’s reactions to their performances.

Despite the joking nature of their comments, Damon emphasized that Zendaya’s performance was genuinely remarkable. He praised her ability to navigate demanding roles while consistently delivering strong performances on set.

“So it was this amazing ability she had to come in and really put herself in there and blow everybody away, and then just go back to shooting ‘Euphoria’,” Damon remarked.

In ‘The Odyssey’, Zendaya portrays Athena, and the cast has consistently described her as someone who brings a calm focus to intense filming conditions. Nolan himself, also quoted in the Elle feature, mentioned that he sought her out for her “iconic grace” and her capacity to embody a role that required both presence and emotional depth.

For Damon, this combination of talent and presence explains why she was the one receiving the rare “perfect” from Nolan, even if it came with a bit of playful ribbing from her co-stars.

‘The Odyssey’, directed by Christopher Nolan and highlighted in Alexis Okeowo’s feature, boasts a large ensemble cast and is one of the most anticipated releases of the year.

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