Matt Damon has opened up about the serious physical transformation he underwent to fit Christopher Nolan’s vision for The Odyssey. The body had to be slim, but strong and durable. In a conversation with Jason and Travis Kelce, Damon explained that he had to drastically reduce his body weight, losing about 40 pounds. He jokingly admitted that it was a great experience for him, almost like a personal “odyssey”.
He achieved the target look not only through intense, daily training, but also through changes in his diet. Under the doctor’s mandatory supervision, he completely eliminated gluten, which contributed to weight loss. After weighing 185-200 pounds, he dropped to around 167, a level he has not reached since his school days.
He points out that the key to success was discipline: a clearly defined goal, working with a trainer, and a strict diet and training regimen. Over time, that lifestyle became a routine for him, not just preparation for a role.
Matt Damon explained that preparing for his roles is like a kind of “season” for him, similar to the regimen professional athletes follow. In a conversation with Travis and Jason Kelce, he explained that such a lifestyle becomes routine over time – training, nutrition, and recovery simply fit into everyday life.
After filming The Odyssey, he maintained a gluten-free diet. Travis alluded to his fiancée, Taylor Swift, who is famous for baking bread, saying that Damon is “resisting.”
However, the actor admits that he doesn’t really find it difficult and even found a gluten-free beer. He laughed that he can’t even judge what the real one tastes like anymore, which he considers a good sign.
His transformation was also commented on by his friend Ben Affleck, who jokingly said that at the premiere everyone questioned him as if Damon had “discovered the secret of life”, showing him photos of his abs. With a smile, he added that it looks great, but also that maintaining such a shape is getting harder with age.
Christian Bale, American Hustle & Vice
Christian Bale is known for extreme physical transformations for film roles. For the film American Hustle, he gained more than 40 pounds to portray a pot-bellied con artist, which earned him an Oscar nomination. He did a similar thing for the role of the famous US vice president in the movie Vice, for which he was also nominated.
On the other hand, for the film Ford vs. Ferrari, he drastically lost about 70 pounds to play the scrawny racing driver Ken Miles. It wasn’t the first time he lost about 30 pounds during the filming of The Fighter.
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
For the role of the grandmother in the movie Hillbilly Elegy, Glenn Close underwent a major physical change. Special effects artist Matthew Mungle used her head model to create completely new ears and a nose, altering her appearance. This dedication to the role earned her an Oscar nomination.
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
In the movie The Apprentice, Sebastian Stan combined the work of a makeup artist and a hairdresser with a physical change. Apart from physical transformation (also seen in Pam & Tommy), he increased his body mass to achieve a fuller look. He achieved this through a specific diet, including high-calorie meals such as instant noodles and sodas.
Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Andra Day significantly reduced her body weight to portray Billie Holiday. This change was crucial to the authenticity of her interpretation and earned her an Oscar nomination.
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
To portray J. Robert Oppenheimer’s physical appearance, Cillian Murphy lost weight, aiming for a distinctly lean, almost emaciated figure. Emily Blunt joked about his diet, but Murphy explained that his goal was to accurately convey the character’s specific silhouette, aided by bones that emphasized thinness.
Charlize Theron, Monster
In the movie Monster, Charlize Theron changed her appearance beyond recognition to play Aileen Wuornos. This major transformation was key to the believability of the role and earned her the Oscar for Best Actress.
Joaquin Phoenix, The Joker
For the movie Joker, Joaquin Phoenix lost significant weight to portray the psychologically complex Arthur Fleck, the future Joker. His transformation highlighted the character’s intensity, and he won the Oscar for Best Actor.
Nicole Kidman, The Hours
For her role in The Hours, Nicole Kidman underwent extensive makeup to transform her look. A key element was the striking prosthetic nose, which took hours to apply and made her almost unrecognizable, which eventually won her an Oscar.
Tom Hanks, Philadelphia
In the movie Philadelphia, Tom Hanks drastically lost weight and changed his appearance by shaving his head to faithfully portray a lawyer suffering from HIV/AIDS. His commitment to the role was rewarded with an Oscar, and he repeated a similar physical transformation in the movie Cast Away.
Reanee Zellweger, Judy
Although she previously changed weight for Bridget Jones’s Diary, Renee Zellweger in Judy did not rely on physical body changes to portray Judy Garland. Instead, a crucial part of the transformation was enhanced with costumes and make-up.
Costume designer Jany Temime tailored the clothes to the character’s specific posture, so the costumes only “worked” when Zellweger assumed the right posture, which helped her fully immerse herself in the role.
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
In the film, I, Tonya, Margot Robbie moved away from her previous glamorous life. To portray Tonya Harding more convincingly, she used a combination of prosthetics, special dental accessories, and wigs, which achieved a significantly “rougher” look. That transformation brought her an Oscar nomination.
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
For his role in the movie Dallas Buyers Club, Matthew McConaughey drastically changed his physical appearance to portray a man suffering from AIDS. The role was key to authenticity and won him an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Heath Ledger, in The Dark Knight
In The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger presented a completely different version of the Joker. His appearance was deliberately disheveled – his makeup smudged, as if it hadn’t been touched up in days – which emphasized the character’s psychosis. Makeup artist John Caglione Jr. explained that they wanted the opposite of the classic, precise clown aesthetic. Ledger was posthumously awarded an Oscar for this role.
Hilary Swank, Boys Don’t Cry & Million Dollar Baby
Hilary Swank is known for completely “immersing” herself in characters. In Boys Don’t Cry, she transformed to portray Brandon Teen, while in Million Dollar Baby, she underwent intense physical preparation and muscle-building. Both roles won her an Oscar.
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
For Darkest Hour, Gary Oldman almost disappeared behind layers of makeup to bring Winston Churchill to life. He spent hours in makeup every day, and an additional corset-effect costume helped achieve the character’s signature physique.
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
For the role in Black Swan, Natalie Portman underwent a demanding regimen – she lost significant weight and trained to the limits of her endurance. Such physical and mental preparation enabled her to convincingly portray a fragile yet obsessive ballerina and earned her an Oscar.
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Jared Leto radically changed his appearance and demeanor for Dallas Buyers Club – he lost significant weight and remained in the role throughout filming. His goal was not only physical transformation, but also a complete expression of emotions. He was awarded an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this role.
Brie Larson, Room
In the movie Room, Brie Larson focused on building physical strength to portray a mother who survives extreme conditions. In addition, she limited her contact with the outside world and adjusted her life to better connect with the character’s psychological state, which won her an Oscar.
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
For The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Rooney Mara underwent her most drastic transformation. She changed her appearance through piercings, bleached eyebrows, and a hairstyle change, fully embodying the character of Lisbeth Salander. This striking change earned her an Oscar nomination.
