NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
Matt Damon reflects on life now and his latest movie, Christopher Nolan\u2019s The Odyssey<\/em>, in his PEOPLE cover story<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n- \n\n
Upon turning 50, he reflects, \u201cI really started feeling like time is the most precious commodity there is\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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Being \u201cintentional\u201d about how he spends his time, the dad of four says, involves his family, work and nonprofit Water.org<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Matt Damon<\/a> is reflecting on his priorities amid one of the most notable moments in his career.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe 55-year-old star of The Odyssey<\/em><\/a> (in theaters now), Christopher Nolan<\/a>\u2018s adaptation of Homer\u2019s ancient Greek poem, says in his PEOPLE cover story interview that his priorities have sharpened upon celebrating a milestone birthday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cYou get on the other side of 50, and at least for me, I really started feeling like time is the most precious commodity there is,\u201d says the Oscar<\/a> winner. \u201cI just want to be intentional with what I do with it and make sure that I\u2019m spending it exactly where I want to spend it.\u201d<\/p>\nThere are \u201cthree things,\u201d Damon shares, he\u2019s prioritizing with his time: \u201cmy family and work and then Water.org<\/a>.\u201d The latter is the actor-filmmaker\u2019s nonprofit<\/a> providing safe water access to those living in poverty, which he co-founded in 2009.<\/p>\nNever miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\nOn the family side, the Brooklyn-based Damon is in a \u201cnew phase of life,\u201d he says, as an empty nest approaches. He and wife Luciana<\/a>, 50, his wife since 2005, share daughters<\/a> Alexia, 27, Isabella, 20, Gia, 17, and Stella, 15. \u201cHaving two older kids who are out of the nest and knowing how fast these final years go, we\u2019re trying to be mindful of holding onto what we can,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\u201cIn terms of work,\u201d he continues, his goal with longtime collaborator and friend Ben Affleck<\/a> is to grow their production company Artist\u2019s Equity \u201cand make the kind of movies that we started the company so that we could make.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\nWater.org\u2019s Gary White and Matt Damon in 2018Credit: Courtesy<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
As Damon says, \u201cThat\u2019s a very full life.\u201d Being in his 50s, he adds, \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve calmed down a little bit and I\u2019m not chasing something. I just want to do work that I think is really stellar on my own terms and on things that I really believe in.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Odyssey<\/em>, also starring Anne Hathaway<\/a>, Tom Holland<\/a>, Robert Pattinson<\/a>, Zendaya<\/a>, Charlize Theron<\/a>, Lupita Nyong\u2019o<\/a>, Elliot Page<\/a>, and Samantha Morton<\/a>, features the muscular Damon<\/a> as Odysseus \u2014 who often rails against the gods in his decades-long quest to return home from the Trojan War.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe actor reflects on how he\u2019s grappled with the idea of mastering his fate through the years. \u201cI just try to think about what I can control and what I can\u2019t,\u201d Damon says, \u201cinstead of railing against the gods about things that I can\u2019t control.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n![\"(Left-right:)](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/19\/9089efaf-1d7e-3a4e-ba66-70a8a74f13eb\/a50f8b75-bbc4-490d-92dc-262eec96f6da.jpg\"\/)
<\/div>\n(Left-right:) Alexia Barroso, Isabella Damon, Gia Damon, Matt Damon, Luciana Barroso and Stella Damon in July 2024Credit: Dia Dipasupil\/WireImage<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
He adds, \u201cYou live long enough and things happen and tragedy comes and visits you no matter who you are. And you have to just accept what happens. I think starting out as an actor, you have to feel that way a little bit. You have to because the odds are so long against you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt Damon reflects on life now and his latest movie, Christopher Nolan\u2019s The Odyssey<\/em>, in his PEOPLE cover story<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Upon turning 50, he reflects, \u201cI really started feeling like time is the most precious commodity there is\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Being \u201cintentional\u201d about how he spends his time, the dad of four says, involves his family, work and nonprofit Water.org<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Matt Damon<\/a> is reflecting on his priorities amid one of the most notable moments in his career.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 55-year-old star of The Odyssey<\/em><\/a> (in theaters now), Christopher Nolan<\/a>\u2018s adaptation of Homer\u2019s ancient Greek poem, says in his PEOPLE cover story interview that his priorities have sharpened upon celebrating a milestone birthday.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou get on the other side of 50, and at least for me, I really started feeling like time is the most precious commodity there is,\u201d says the Oscar<\/a> winner. \u201cI just want to be intentional with what I do with it and make sure that I\u2019m spending it exactly where I want to spend it.\u201d<\/p>\n There are \u201cthree things,\u201d Damon shares, he\u2019s prioritizing with his time: \u201cmy family and work and then Water.org<\/a>.\u201d The latter is the actor-filmmaker\u2019s nonprofit<\/a> providing safe water access to those living in poverty, which he co-founded in 2009.<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n On the family side, the Brooklyn-based Damon is in a \u201cnew phase of life,\u201d he says, as an empty nest approaches. He and wife Luciana<\/a>, 50, his wife since 2005, share daughters<\/a> Alexia, 27, Isabella, 20, Gia, 17, and Stella, 15. \u201cHaving two older kids who are out of the nest and knowing how fast these final years go, we\u2019re trying to be mindful of holding onto what we can,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cIn terms of work,\u201d he continues, his goal with longtime collaborator and friend Ben Affleck<\/a> is to grow their production company Artist\u2019s Equity \u201cand make the kind of movies that we started the company so that we could make.\u201d<\/p>\n Water.org\u2019s Gary White and Matt Damon in 2018Credit: Courtesy<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n As Damon says, \u201cThat\u2019s a very full life.\u201d Being in his 50s, he adds, \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve calmed down a little bit and I\u2019m not chasing something. I just want to do work that I think is really stellar on my own terms and on things that I really believe in.\u201d<\/p>\n The Odyssey<\/em>, also starring Anne Hathaway<\/a>, Tom Holland<\/a>, Robert Pattinson<\/a>, Zendaya<\/a>, Charlize Theron<\/a>, Lupita Nyong\u2019o<\/a>, Elliot Page<\/a>, and Samantha Morton<\/a>, features the muscular Damon<\/a> as Odysseus \u2014 who often rails against the gods in his decades-long quest to return home from the Trojan War.\u00a0<\/p>\n The actor reflects on how he\u2019s grappled with the idea of mastering his fate through the years. \u201cI just try to think about what I can control and what I can\u2019t,\u201d Damon says, \u201cinstead of railing against the gods about things that I can\u2019t control.\u201d<\/p>\n (Left-right:) Alexia Barroso, Isabella Damon, Gia Damon, Matt Damon, Luciana Barroso and Stella Damon in July 2024Credit: Dia Dipasupil\/WireImage<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n He adds, \u201cYou live long enough and things happen and tragedy comes and visits you no matter who you are. And you have to just accept what happens. I think starting out as an actor, you have to feel that way a little bit. You have to because the odds are so long against you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>