Matt Damon survives brutal shoot for 'The Odyssey'

Matt Damon went full Greek hero for his latest role in Christopher Nolan’s 2026 epic The Odyssey, and his beard is 100% real.

The 55-year-old actor, playing Odysseus, revealed that Nolan demanded real facial hair for authenticity. 

“I’m not a big fan of wigs and fake beards,” he told Empire magazine. 

“You want the physicality of real hair, so that you can put a firehose on the guy and do all the things we need him to do.”

The Good Will Hunting actor admitted it was the longest beard he’s ever tried to grow, joking that his four daughters had plenty to say about it along the way. 

But the physical challenges of filming went far beyond facial fuzz. 

“Every location on this movie would have been the toughest location on any film I’ve ever done,” he said, recalling a gruelling boat sequence on the Draken where the cast rowed for months.

Despite the hardships, Damon says the experience forged lasting bonds. 

The fantasy blockbuster follows Odysseus as he battles monsters, gods and his own mistakes while his wife Penelope and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) protect their kingdom. 

The star-studded cast also includes Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, Mia Goth, and Elliot Page, who recently called returning to work with Nolan “such a joy” after their Inception reunion.

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