As The Odyssey continues to generate awards buzz, a 2015 interview featuring Matt Damon on The Graham Norton Show has resurfaced, drawing renewed attention to his reflections on winning an Academy Award at the age of 27.

Damon explained that after winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting alongside Ben Affleck, he spent time alone with the award and came to an important realization about success and fulfillment.

He recalled thinking:

“Thank God I didn’t f**k anybody over for this.”

He then imagined what it would be like to spend an entire lifetime chasing an Oscar only to achieve it in old age, realizing it could never provide lasting fulfillment. Damon said that awards cannot fill an emotional void and that understanding this at such a young age was a gift.

According to Damon, he felt fortunate to recognize early in life that personal fulfillment comes from more than professional recognition. He reflected that his Oscar represented creative work accomplished honestly alongside Ben Affleck rather than through compromising his values.

The article notes that although Damon has received three additional Academy Award nominations since then, he has not won another Oscar. It says he has made peace with that reality, explaining that while another Oscar would be welcome, creating meaningful work and valuing the important relationships in his life matter far more to him than awards themselves.

The article also mentions that many viewers praised Damon’s perspective after the clip resurfaced, while others suggested that The Odyssey could finally earn him another Academy Award. It concludes by noting that Damon has indicated his appreciation for the project would remain the same regardless of whether he wins another Oscar.