‘The Odyssey’ Star Matt Damon Calls Kissing Scarlett Johansson Hell in Hilarious Anecdote

Hollywood’s leading men often share the screen with some of the most sought-after co-stars, and the on-set chemistry audiences witness rarely reveals the full story behind the scenes. Matt Damon, known for his charm and likability, has acknowledged that not every romantic moment translates into magic once the cameras stop rolling.

The actor has a rich history of sharing behind-the-scenes stories with friends and fellow stars during press tours, often delivering some of the most entertaining soundbites of any promotional cycle. Damon’s chemistry with frequent collaborators tends to create especially candid moments, and one particular story involving Scarlett Johansson has resurfaced online, gaining renewed attention.

While chatting with his ‘Oppenheimer’ co-star Emily Blunt for LADbible’s Agree to Disagree series, Damon revisited a kissing scene with Johansson that didn’t go as smoothly as they had hoped. The two were filming 2011’s ‘We Bought a Zoo,’ where Damon portrays widowed father Benjamin Mee, who buys a rundown zoo and forms a bond with head zookeeper Kelly Foster, played by Johansson.

Damon explained that the kiss went off without a hitch the first time they filmed it. He shared that he and Johansson completed a two-shot before lunch that ended in a kiss, and both actors felt the scene was finished, believing it had turned out natural and effective.

However, the trouble began when everyone returned from lunch. Director Cameron Crowe had reset the camera for a tighter shot of the kiss, only for Johansson to realize she had just eaten what Damon humorously described as an onion sandwich, prompting her to blurt out a startled apology on set.

Instead of letting the moment pass, Damon embraced the humor of the situation during the retake. He admitted to teasing Johansson about her breath throughout the filming, joking afterward that he never actually smelled anything unpleasant, claiming her breath, in his words, smelled like roses.

Blunt couldn’t resist poking fun at her co-star during the exchange, asking if he still felt flustered kissing Johansson despite the onion mishap. Damon laughed off the question, maintaining that the whole experience had been “hell” for him, before clarifying that he was merely teasing his co-star.

This anecdote originally gained traction back in 2023 when Damon and Blunt were promoting ‘Oppenheimer,’ but it has clearly found new life as clips from the interview continue to circulate. Fans have always appreciated behind-the-scenes stories that humanize A-list actors, and this one checks every box, combining two beloved stars, a relatable mishap, and a generous dose of self-deprecating humor from Damon.

It also fits into a broader trend of actors sharing awkward on-set kissing stories during press tours, something audiences seem to find endlessly entertaining. Damon’s tale joins similar stories from other stars, including Dane Cook’s complaints about a co-star eating onions before a love scene and Robert Pattinson recalling a less-than-glamorous kissing scene during an illness.

What makes the Damon and Johansson story particularly memorable is the playful dynamic between two actors who clearly share a comfortable working relationship. The duo had previously collaborated once before and later teamed up again for ‘Black Widow,’ establishing a track record of on-screen chemistry that predates this anecdote. This familiarity likely made it easier for Damon to joke about the situation without it feeling mean-spirited.

For fans who missed the original 2023 interview, the resurfacing clip serves as a delightful reminder that even seemingly perfect Hollywood moments often come with a messier, funnier story behind the scenes. It’s the kind of lighthearted celebrity gossip that tends to spread quickly across social media, especially when it involves two stars as recognizable as Damon and Johansson.

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