After this year, Matt Damon should be known as the character who physically transformed twice — once to play a corporate fat cat whistle blower/embezzler and once to play a muscular rugby player.
Damon had six months to master an elusive South African accent and pack some new muscle on a frame that would be facing pulverizing punishment on the field, something an American Football fan would not be used to due to the heavy padding used in that game. He would be playing a real-life character who, in the course of his career, has broken his nose 14 times and received 400 stitches to his face.
“I had to build myself up to try to pull off the illusion of being the captain of a South African rugby team,” Damon says. “Ultimately, I was trying to look at every possible pitfall, what are the things that could possibly blow this illusion?”
That’s the way Damon works, thinking hard about a role long before he hits the set. “So I kind of made my little checklist of things to do.”
The 39-year-old actor will always remember his first meeting with Pienaar, the character he is portraying in Invictus. He and co-star, Morgan Freeman received an invitation to Pienaar’s house for a gourmet dinner, the South African sports icon was cooking himself.
“Hanging out with him in South Africa was funny, because he’s like Elvis down there,” smiled Matt, “He invited Morgan and I to meet
his wife and two boys and I remember I rang the door bell and I looked UP at him! The first thing I ever said to Francois Pienaar in my life was – ‘I look much bigger on film.’ And he laughed and gave me a big hug, took me into his house and that was it”.
Damon had earlier gained 3 stone in fat for his part in the Informant and he said how taking the part of Francois Pienaar had changed the way he worked out, ”
I didn’t want to embarrass Francois,” said Matt. “Gaining weight for The Informant was alarmingly easy – just drinking beer, eating pizza and burgers.”
“If Jason Bourne looks a little flabby, that’s on me,” said Matt. “But this is someone’s actual life. I didn’t want to let him down. It wasn’t going to be for any lack of effort, which was what the team were famous for. They were known for going that extra mile.”
Invictus is an Oscar hopeful this year with Damon looking at Best Supporting Actor and Morgan Freemon after Best Actor for his portrayal of Nelson Mandella in the movie.
Tags: Clint Eastwood, Invictus, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman
Author: Adam Tinnion
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