The Odyssey Isn't 100% Matt Damon's Bulging Biceps — for One Scene His Stunt Double Was a Woman Who Had 'The Greatest Arms I've Ever Seen'
IGN · 2026-07-21
Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of *The Odyssey* features a pivotal scene where Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, and his crew encounter the giant Laestrygonians, depicted as medieval knights. To achieve the dramatic height differential for these practical effects, the production utilized stunt performers of varying heights: men over seven feet tall and others under five feet. Remarkably, for sequences where Damon's character appears dwarfed by the giants, a female stunt double was employed due to her exceptional physique. Damon specifically recalled her having "the greatest arms I've ever seen," acknowledging her significant contribution to the illusion, despite his own efforts to maintain a lean 167 pounds—a weight he hadn't achieved since high school—through a rigorous gluten-free diet and intensive training.
*The full article also explores additional practical effects and casting details from Nolan's film.*