Matt Damon might be one of the most versatile talents in the industry. He has delivered several brilliant performances while portraying distinctive characters like Jason Bourne, Colin Sullivan, Mark Watney, and Will Hunting among others. In acting categories, he has been nominated for Oscars three times.
But his talents know no bounds. He has also won an Academy Award for his Good Will Hunting screenplay, which he wrote alongside his childhood friend, Ben Affleck. The pair also are keen on the business front, having launched the artist-led studio Artists Equity in 2022.
However, when it comes to fame, it seems the former Batman actor has left his friend far behind. At least that’s what Damon’s story suggested during an appearance on a talk show.
How a “Fan” Reacted When Matt Damon Overestimated His Hollywood Fame
In a poetic way, Matt Damon is perhaps very similar to his most famous character to date, Will Hunting. Like the mathematical genius in Good Will Hunting (1997), Damon is blessed with an abundance of talent and is highly appreciated by the majority of individuals who have come across his work in one way or another.
At the same time, akin to Will, Damon seems to remain in the background. When he’s in the midst of his craft, there’s only a few better, but once the production is wrapped up, he seldom makes the headlines. And the artists who don’t make the headlines and attract camera flashes, don’t get as much fame as their counterparts, who understand the tricks of the trade.
During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, The Martian actor recalled an incident that taught him he’s not very popular the hard way – or to be more precise, the awkward way. He said:
“It was just us [his wife Luciana Barroso and their daughter] in the park and we were playing with our baby, and this young Spanish couple came kind of strolling down hand in hand. They kind of looked over and saw me and had an exchange and then pulled out a camera and came over. I said to my wife, ‘Here we go.’ The guy says to me, ‘Please [take] a picture?’ and I said ‘no problem’ and I went over to his wife and I put my arm around her.”
Turns out the guy didn’t know who Damon was, and he just wanted him to take a picture of him and his wife together. The actor added that he looked at him in an “international” way, as any man would in such an awkward situation. This whole exchange hilariously happened in front of Damon’s wife.
Cillian Murphy Admits He’s a Huge Fan of Matt Damon
As mentioned earlier, Damon might not be amongst the most popular Hollywood stars, but he’s certainly highly admired by his peers. Recently, he worked alongside Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer, portraying the character of Leslie Groves.
Murphy, akin to Damon, is not your typical superstar. Despite his talents, he had to wait until now to get a lead role in a high-profile movie. The Irish actor is apparently also not very big on getting star-struck by other superstars.
Still, he took time to wax lyrical about his co-star. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he said: “Matt Damon you know, I’ve admired his work even before I was an actor.”
Not only did Murphy praise Damon’s on-screen work, but he also admitted that he admires The Departed actor’s values as a human being.
Source: The Graham Norton Show
