Muscles and Charisma: Matt Damon’s Body Double in «Odyssey» Revealed
For years, she was one of Hollywood’s “invisible” women, but a single compliment from Matt Damon changed everything. Canadian stuntwoman Deven Dalton, who went viral after the actor praised her as having “the best arms” he had ever seen, shares her experience working on the box-office epic.
Behind every great action star, there is usually a stunt performer, but in the case of Matt Damon in one of the most talked-about scenes of Christopher Nolan’s «Odyssey», the person who stepped into his shoes was a woman. And not just any woman: Deven Dalton, a Canadian stuntwoman standing about 1.37 meters tall, has become one of the most intriguing surprises of this massive production in recent months. Dalton’s name was almost unknown outside the industry until Damon mentioned in an interview that she was one of his doubles, publicly praising her physique:
“The best arms I’ve ever seen,” he said.
That compliment went viral, revealing to the world a professional who has been working behind the scenes of major productions for years.
Growing up in Canada, Dalton entered the world of stunts after years of training in dance, martial arts, yoga, and strength conditioning. Throughout her career, she has participated in major film and television projects, including the «Planet of the Apes» trilogy, but «Odyssey» marked an exceptional milestone: it was the first time she served as a double for a male lead. The choice was not accidental.
In one of the film’s most impressive action sequences, the crew needed to illustrate the enormous size gap between Odysseus and the mythological giants attacking him and his men. Director Christopher Nolan, known for his preference to avoid digital effects whenever possible, utilized perspective tricks and low-stature stunt performers, with Dalton serving as a central part of this creative solution.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Dalton said she never expected to become the talk of the town. According to her, years of hard work in the industry passed with almost no one outside the sets knowing her name, so the sudden attention was a complete surprise. “A huge thank you to Matt Damon for his generosity,” she said.
Alongside the excitement, Dalton expressed hope that this exposure will shine a light on the work of all stunt performers, who often execute the most memorable moments in films while remaining far from the spotlight. In an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, she added: “Viewers see the stars on the screen, but not always the hundreds of crew members, professionals, and creators who work together to create these moments. Each of them is important.”
