Matt Damon is thinking harder these days about time, work and what he may have missed along the way.
The Hollywood star opened up in a new GQ interview tied to Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film ‘The Odyssey.’ Damon said that as his daughters get older, he has become more aware of how quickly family life moves.
“As my kids grow older, I find myself thinking about it more and more,” Damon said. “I’m really trying to be in the moment, but it’s not always easy for me.”
Matt Damon Says Hollywood Makes Presence Hard
Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, share a blended family of four daughters. Barroso is mom to Alexia, born in 1999, from a previous relationship. The couple also share Isabella, born in 2006, Gia, born in 2008, and Stella, born in 2010.
Damon said part of his struggle to stay present may just be his nature. Still, he admitted the movie business has not helped.
“In this industry, you’re always looking ahead because it’s so unpredictable and, frankly, pretty cutthroat,” Damon said.
He added that the pressure has pulled him away from the present more than he would like.
‘The Odyssey’ Changed His Perspective
Damon said filming ‘The Odyssey’ gave him a rare chance to feel fully present again.
The project, directed by Nolan, is a large-scale production made on film and on location. Damon said there are not many filmmakers left who can still mount that kind of movie.
“Creating a story of this scale, on film, on location, there are only a handful of people who can pull that off nowadays,” Damon said.
He also suggested that roles like this may become less common for him as he gets older.
“As I get older, those opportunities are probably going to be fewer and farther between for me,” he said.
Damon Is Holding Family Time Closer
That realization made the experience more meaningful. Damon said he enjoyed the shoot in a way he might not have earlier in his career.
“I was completely in it every single day, just loving it,” Damon said.
He added that things that once may have stressed him out actually felt fun this time.
Fans recently saw Damon’s family side when he appeared on the red carpet with his four daughters at the premiere of ‘The Rip.’
In 2024, Damon reflected on how quickly parenting moves.
“It’s wild, one minute your kid’s in diapers, and the next they’re heading off to college,” he said.
For Damon, the lesson seems simple. The career still matters. The big movies still matter. But the years at home may be moving even faster.
