Matt Damon Reveals The Beard-Related Note He Got For Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, While Buddy Ben Affleck Jokes About Having ‘Superior’ Facial Hair

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Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are famous for their close friendship and successful collaboration in Hollywood. They first gained recognition for writing the movie *Good Will Hunting*, and they’re continuing to work together on upcoming projects like the Netflix thriller *The Rip* and a new version of *The Odyssey*. Their playful bond was on display when Ben Affleck jokingly teased Matt about having better facial hair after Matt mentioned a note he received regarding beards for *The Odyssey*.

Before starring in Christopher Nolan’s new film, *Odyssey*, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will appear together in the Netflix crime thriller, *The Rip*. The two actors play Miami police officers dealing with friction after finding a large sum of money, and they’ve been jokingly teasing each other about the beards they grew for the movie.

During a recent interview with GQ, the actor known for *The Bourne Identity* explained how growing a beard for his role in *Rip* actually helped him prepare to play Odysseus in *The Odyssey*. He made it clear that director Christopher Nolan wasn’t involved in that particular decision.

I grew my beard for my role in ‘My Rip Beard’ as preparation for ‘The Odyssey’. When Christopher Nolan cast me, he asked me to simply let it grow naturally. I even asked if we could use a fake beard, applied piece by piece like they sometimes do in Italian films, but he insisted on it being real and growing it out organically.

Given that the story of Homer’s epic takes place between 1600 and 1200 B.C., it’s fitting that Matt Damon’s character has a longer beard. People in the ancient world didn’t have access to modern grooming tools like razors or barbers. Therefore, director Nolan’s choice to portray Odysseus with a natural, slightly rough appearance enhances the historical accuracy of the film.

Matt Damon wasn’t the only one growing a beard for *The Rip*. His then-rising co-star also had significant facial hair to play a Miami narcotics officer. So, predictably, Affleck playfully trimmed his friend’s beard while on set, and honestly, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone. As he explained it:

Throughout our careers, Matt has likely achieved more than I have. But I’m definitely better when it comes to facial hair! At least, that’s my opinion.

It’s funny how the focus of this Netflix thriller has shifted to a beard-growing contest! These two actors seem to be playfully competing with each other, and their beards have become a symbol of that rivalry.

Ben Affleck has teased his friend Matt Damon about his long beard before, playfully suggesting he thought Damon would shave it off before the Netflix Tudum event. Despite the teasing, Affleck happily joined Damon and his wife for dinner at a steakhouse. It’s obvious Affleck enjoys Damon’s beard and isn’t shy about showing his approval.

As a movie fan, one of my favorite things about Ben Affleck and Matt Damon is their playful rivalry – even when they’re tackling really serious roles, they always seem to be competing over who has the better beard! It just adds a fun dynamic, especially when they’re playing tough guys. I’m really looking forward to seeing them in action in *The Rip*, which is coming to Netflix on January 16th, and then in *The Odyssey* when it hits theaters on July 17th.

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2025-09-15 01:01