Robert Pattinson says he and Tom Holland were both startled by what they heard coming from Matt Damon’s trailer while filming Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. From the outside, it sounded as if Damon was in the middle of some kind of crisis, with the actor apparently shouting repeatedly as he prepared for his role as Odysseus.
In an MTV UK interview, Pattinson recalled that Damon was next door making loud noises for a reason that was not immediately obvious. At first, he thought the actor might be on the phone or dealing with something far more dramatic. Pattinson said he even wondered if Damon was having an especially bad bathroom emergency before learning the truth: Damon was straining his voice so he could come across as older and more battle-worn in the film. Pattinson joked that the effort seemed extreme, calling the process unsettling before admitting Damon was simply doing serious character work.
Damon’s physical transformation for Nolan’s film
Holland also heard the vocal exercises and reportedly described the preparation as impressive. Damon’s commitment to the part goes beyond his voice, too. Earlier this year, he said on the New Heights podcast that he dropped down to 167 pounds for the movie. He explained that director Christopher Nolan wanted him lean but still strong, and that he achieved the result through training and a very strict diet. Damon added that he had not weighed that little since high school.
The actor’s preparation stands in contrast to other roles in which he had to gain weight. Damon previously said he put on 30 pounds for The Informant by eating heavily and drinking dark beer, even describing a routine that included fast food and snacks between scenes. The Odyssey is scheduled to open in theaters on July 17 through Universal Pictures.
Source: variety.com
