Matt Damon shares rare ‘lifestyle change’ he adapted for ‘The Odyssey’ filming

Matt Damon has opened up about the “complete lifestyle change” he made during filming of his latest film, The Odyssey.

The 55-year-old plays Greek hero Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's highly successful adaptation.

The Oscar-winning actor revealed he cut out gluten after being asked to slim down for the role to look “lean but strong.”

He said he normally walks around between 185 and 200lbs but, with lots of exercise and changing his diet, he said he cut down to just 167lbs. "I haven't been that light since high school. So, it was a lot of training and a really strict diet," he said.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale. It is usually found in the likes of bread, cakes, pastries, pasta, and breakfast cereals.

Gluten is not a problem for most people, although it can often be found in unhealthy or ultra-processed foods.

Not only did he discuss cutting out gluten, but he also talked about the challenges of getting in shape for a role in his 50s.

Speaking on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast, he said, "It was a - it's just a complete, complete lifestyle change. There's no planning it.”

"Like, any other time I tried to do something like that, it was always like, ‘Well, my time, my workouts, and my thing.’ And this was like, ‘No, just everything.’ You just put your foot on the gas and that's it. That's the only way to do it, and eat a little less. But no - like, no gluten. No gluten, which changed my life,” the Interstellar star explained.

Damon revealed that he had stayed off gluten even after filming ended due to the health benefits. He said it was worth it, despite his love of food and drink including bread, pizza, and beer.

"Still no gluten," he said. "I don't have any desire for it anymore because of what it does to me. Like, I didn't realise the level —I didn't know.”

"We didn't talk about it, and I didn't realise the level to which it was affecting me and affecting my - like, it's completely changed my life these last couple of years of not eating it. And so that's made it - like, it's a bummer, like, I'm a big fan of bread, but - and beer, and, you know what I mean, pasta and pizza and all that stuff, but how I feel is just so much better,” Matt Damon said of how he has embraced the new lifestyle he has adapted.