Matt Damon opens up about ‘The Odyssey’ co-stars Tom Holland and Zendaya’s approach to fame
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Matt Damon has shared his admiration for 'The Odyssey' co-stars Tom Holland and Zendaya while also reflecting on the changing landscape of Hollywood and his evolving priorities.
In a recent interview with GQ published on Tuesday, June 2, he opened up about working alongside the two young stars in filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic, which is set to arrive in theaters on Friday, July 17.
Matt Damon praises Tom Holland and Zendaya amid growing fame
Speaking about Holland and Zendaya, he acknowledged the level of public attention and scrutiny they face compared to what he experienced at a similar stage in his career. “He and Zendaya both, individually and together, are dealing with a lot more than I had to,” Damon said.
He continued, “And I think doing it really gracefully.” The actor had particularly warm words for Holland, who stars as Telemachus in the film. Despite being 30 years old, Holland continues to take on younger “son” roles, something that appears to bring out Damon’s protective instincts.
“I really adore that guy, and he's handling a lot of scrutiny," Damon stated.
Previously, in an interview with Elle, Damon also spoke warmly about the couple after working with them on 'The Odyssey.' He said, “I absolutely adore [Zendaya] and Tom together, and they deserve each other—they're the two loveliest people.”
Reflecting on their success at a young age, he added, “Look, you forget, [Zendaya] and Tom are very young actors and very accomplished for how young they are, but they're still in their 20s.” The 'Martian' actor also recalled being impressed by her ability to earn praise from Nolan, whom he described as someone “known for being very circumspect.”
According to Damon, he would typically respond with a restrained “Yep, good. Okay,” which he said was “the equivalent of the greatest praise you could ever get.”
Matt Damon reflects on Hollywood's future and changing personal priorities
Beyond discussing his co-stars, Damon spoke candidly about what making 'The Odyssey' meant to him at a time when the movie industry is undergoing significant changes. The experience, he admitted, was “a little bewildering.”
He explained, “Because of where the movie business is going, it was a really weird movie for me personally. I had almost a nostalgic feeling the entire time I was making it, because it felt like movies were when I started working.”
Damon continued, “And I know that that's going away. I knew that this was the last chance I was ever going to have to do something like this.”
He also drew a connection between Odysseus's journey and his own thoughts about family and being present in everyday life. “I think about it a lot, especially as my kids are getting older: really trying to be here now,” he said.
At the same time, he acknowledged the challenges of balancing family life with a profession that often requires constant focus on the future.
