The actor revealed how he dropped more than 40 pounds in just three months for his lead in "Courage Under Fire" in 1996.
Matt Damon (46) has transformed his physique countless times to offer credible performances. But in 1996 he had to undergo a shocking metamorphosis, losing 60 pounds to be a cocaine-addicted soldier in the drama Courage Under Fire.
At the age of 25 when he starred in the film, the actor weighed just 63 kilos.
Damon did it on his own without professional support. The secret of this excessive weight loss that left the interpreter looking weak and emaciated was based on nothing more than a single food and running 20 kilometers a day. He repeated this routine every day for three months."The hard part was the diet. All I ate was chicken breast," he revealed.
"I think the most challenging role I've ever had was when I did Courage Under Fire and I had to lose all that weight on my own," the Good Will Hunting Oscar winner told Reddit. "That (role) was the most physically difficult."
The incredibly restrictive regimen and excessive training that the Hollywood star underwent could have cost him his life since he was not under the supervision of specialists.
Biography
Matt Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, and producer who rose to fame in the late 1990s for his roles in critically acclaimed films. He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and raised in nearby Cambridge and Newton. Damon attended Harvard University but dropped out before completing his degree to pursue a career in acting.
Career Highlights
Matt Damon's breakthrough came when he and his friend, Ben Affleck, co-wrote the screenplay for "Good Will Hunting" (1997). The film was a massive success, earning Damon and Affleck an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, Damon received a nomination for Best Actor for his performance in the same film.
Following "Good Will Hunting," Damon's career skyrocketed, and he became one of Hollywood's leading actors. He is known for his versatility and ability to excel in various genres. Some of his notable films include "The Bourne Identity" series (2002, 2004, 2007, and 2016), "Saving Private Ryan" (1998), "The Departed" (2006), "The Martian" (2015), "Interstellar" (2014), "Ocean's Eleven" (2001) and its sequels, and "Elysium" (2013).
Throughout his career, Matt Damon has received critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including Academy Award nominations for "Good Will Hunting," "Invictus" (2009), and "The Martian."
