Matt Damon calls ‘The Odyssey’ the hardest shoot of his career, then his daughter said this

Matt Damon has opened up about the toughest shoot of his career. He says one small moment with his daughter made all of it worth it.

The actor shared the story in an interview with People at the London premiere of ‘The Odyssey’.

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The hardest shoot of his career

Damon, 55, stars as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s new adaptation of Homer’s epic poem. The film hits theaters July 16. He told People that making the movie felt less like a normal shoot and more like an expedition.

He said the cast and crew spent long stretches outdoors in rough conditions. They dealt with cold weather, discomfort, and constant rain. Damon called it the hardest and most challenging film he has ever worked on.

That kind of shoot takes a toll, not just on the actor but on his whole family.

Five words from his daughter

Damon has four daughters with his wife, Luciana Barroso. Their names are Alexia, Isabella, Gia, and Stella, ranging in age from 15 to 27. One of them watched an early cut of the film and turned to her father right after.

She looked at him and said five simple words. Dad, I’m proud of you.

Damon said the moment meant more than it might sound. He explained that his daughter rarely says things like that, since the two of them usually joke around instead of getting sentimental. Hearing it from her told him everything he needed to know.

He said that once she said it, he felt like the work had paid off.

Family made sacrifices too

Damon didn’t shoot this film alone in spirit. He said his family gave up a lot while he was away filming. He described being gone for stretches at a time, with his daughters visiting when they could.

At the London premiere, all four of his daughters showed up to see the finished film for the first time. Damon said having them there felt special, especially given how long and grueling the shoot had been.

He said it was exciting to finally let his daughters watch the movie after everything the family went through to make it happen.

Fatherhood has shaped his acting

This isn’t the first time Damon has talked about how his kids affect his work. In a past interview, he said becoming a father changed the way he approaches acting. He explained that emotions he once had to search for became much easier to access once he had children.

He said those feelings are simply there now, without him needing to force them.

That connection between his family life and his performances seems to run through much of his recent work, including this new role as Odysseus.