Matt Damon revealed that a female stunt performer with the greatest arms I’ve ever seen
doubled for him during key scenes in the 2026 film The Odyssey. The actor confirmed his bicep-heavy shots often featured the double due to the movie’s complex forced-perspective filming techniques involving giants.
The Secret Behind the Laestrygonian Scenes
While audiences were left impressed by the muscular physique Matt Damon displayed in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the actor has clarified that he cannot take full credit for every shot of his character’s limbs. During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Damon explained that the film’s unique approach to scale—specifically the forced-perspective shots featuring the towering Laestrygonian warriors—required a specific kind of physical double.
When we did the forced perspective stuff of the Laestrygonians — I don’t know if there’s been a thing about how we did it — there were these stunt men who were all seven feet,
Damon recounted to the podcast host, Joshua Horowitz. And then they got stuntmen who were under five feet, and so my double was a woman, a female stunt performer, who had the greatest arms I’ve ever seen.
Damon noted that he met the stunt performer in the production’s catering tent, where he made a point to go up and hug her to thank her for all the work she put in.
The actor estimated that while the screen time for his character’s arms was almost 100 percent
his own, the visual trickery necessitated by the giants’ scale meant he had to share the credit.
Devyn Dalton and the Stunt Work for The Odyssey
Following the actor’s comments, the stunt performer, identified as Devyn Dalton, confirmed her involvement in the project. On social media, Dalton acknowledged the praise, posting, It was my honour to double @matt_damon_official,
according to reporting by Entertainment Weekly. Dalton brings a background of extensive stunt work to the film; her IMDb credits include work on the television series Once Upon a Time, The Last of Us, The Fall of the House of Usher, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Physical Transformation and Production Demands
Beyond the technical requirements of the stunt work, Damon undertook a significant personal transformation to play the king of Ithaca. The actor told PEOPLE that he reached his high school weight of 167 pounds during the production. He described the process not as a simple gym routine, but as a total lifestyle overhaul that required being very, very intentional about everything you’re putting in your body.
Damon characterized the experience of filming the project as being more akin to an expedition than a traditional movie set. He highlighted the collaborative nature of working with Christopher Nolan, noting, If you were cold and wet, you just turned and you looked and Chris was just as cold and just as wet and going through it.
He ultimately described the project as the most challenging movie I’ve ever been a part of.
Box Office Performance and Cast
The Odyssey, which follows the king’s perilous journey home to Ithaca following the Trojan War, has already proven to be a commercial success. The film secured a major victory upon its July 17, 2026, release, earning more than $264 million globally during its opening weekend.
The film features an expansive ensemble cast alongside Damon, including Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Tom Holland as Telemachus. The cast also stars Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, Corey Hawkins, Jon Bernthal, Samantha Morton, Travis Scott, and Benny Safdie. As the movie continues its theatrical run, it stands as a major 2026 release directed by Christopher Nolan.
Sources: Hollywoodreporter, EW.
