In The Odyssey, the Greeks boast about being bread eaters, but the cinematic Ulysses has the face of an actor who hasn't touched bread in two years. Matt Damon, in fact, eliminated gluten from his diet after discovering how bad it was for him, and continued to do so during the filming of The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's latest directorial effort.
In the latest episode of "Good Hang," Amy Poehler's podcast, she explained how that sacrifice had a greater impact on her well-being than months of gym time. "I've completely changed my lifestyle, absolutely," the star commented, referring to what Poehler dismissed as "getting a body at fifty."
Bread, Beer, Pasta and Pizza, A List of Regrets
When asked if he still missed it, Damon responded with a firm no: "I know how it affects me now; I had no idea before." Poehler, during the conversation, notes that their generation grew up without hearing about food intolerances and sensitivities, and the actor adds: "I didn't realize how much it was hurting me. My life has completely changed in these two years of being gluten-free. Sure, it's a little sad, because I'm crazy about bread and beer, pasta and pizza and all that stuff, but I'm much better this way."
The disappointment, it must be said, has a certain geographical irony, as much of the filming of The Odyssey took place in Italy, including the Sicilian islands, where carbohydrates are definitely king. However, it's worth remembering that eliminating gluten from your diet isn't a shortcut to weight loss, but a necessity for those living with celiac disease or a known sensitivity. Damon himself, not surprisingly, has specified that he made that decision with the guidance of his doctor.
The dietary change didn't come on set, then, but a few months earlier. As a guest on Andy Cohen's SiriusXM show, Damon revealed he'd undergone a gut cleanse prescribed by a specialist: ninety days without gluten, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar, undertaken during a break from work and with his wife, who followed the same regimen. "It was terrible," he admitted, "but my wife did it with me, and that helped a lot." At the end of the three months, he found himself in the best shape of his life and, more importantly, with an explanation (according to him) for ailments he'd been struggling with for years.
From 200.6 to 167.5 Pounds to Become Odysseus
The actor had already discussed his physical transformation earlier this year on brothers Travis and Jason Kelce's "New Heights" podcast, revealing that he had reached his lowest weight since high school. Nolan, for his part, had a very clear vision for the character: "He wanted me to be lean but strong," explained Damon, who at that point combined daily workouts with a strict diet, relying on a very scrupulous fitness trainer.
"I stopped eating gluten because of another issue I was having with my doctor," Matt recounted. "I usually weighed between 180 and 200 pounds. I shot the entire film at 170." A goal he, by his own admission, wouldn't pursue with the methods he once had: for the 1996 war drama "Courage Under Fire," he lost between 40 and 50 pounds in about 100 days, only to be told by a doctor that he risked permanently damaging his heart muscle.
What Did Odysseus Really Eat?
If the paradox of the bread-eating gluten-free man piqued your interest, the Homeric epic lays a far more lavish table than the film suggests: Polyphemus's cheese piled high on racks, Marone's red wine so strong it demands dilution, Circe's mysterious kykeon made with barley, honey, and grated goat's cheese. We've discussed this extensively in our in-depth look at what's eaten in the Odyssey, including banquets, hospitality rituals, and sacred cows that must not be touched.
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