Matt Damon Promised His Wife He Would Take a Break From Acting – But There Was One Exception to That Pact

Matt Damon is and has been one of the hardest-working actors of his generation – having appeared in nearly 100 films and nearly two dozen television shows since bursting onto the scene in 1988. While his career is very important to him and his family, he doesn’t want his busy schedule to tear his family apart.

That’s why Damon recently promised his wife, Luciana Barroso, that he would take a break from acting – in a couples therapy session, nonetheless. It would be a much-needed break, considering the actor has appeared in five major films since 2021 and has another five films being released in the next few years. 

The 52-year-old opened up about the vow he made to his wife in an interview with Entertainment Weekly – he was joined by his Oppenheimer co-stars for EW’s recent installment of Around the Table. While he takes the vow seriously, there was one exception and it involves the film’s director, Christopher Nolan.

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“This is going to sound made up, but it’s actually true. I had – not to get too personal – negotiated extensively with my wife that I was taking time off,” Matt Damon explained. “But I actually negotiated in couples therapy ­— this is a true story — the one caveat to my taking time off was if Chris Nolan called.”

Sure enough, Christopher Nolan called and Matt Damon stayed true to his word when asked if he would accept the role of Lieutenant General Leslie Groves in his new film about the creation of the atomic bomb. That film premiered on July 11 at Le Grand Rex in Paris and will premiere in the United States on July 21.

“I had been in Interstellar, and then Chris put me on ice for a couple of movies, so I wasn’t in the rotation,” Damon continued to explain. “This is without knowing whether or not he was working on anything, because he never tells you. He just calls you out of the blue. And so, it was a moment in my household.”

In addition to Oppenheimer, Damon also appeared in Air (which was released on April 5) and appears in Drive-Away Dolls – which is set for a September 22 release date. If that’s not enough, he’s also appearing in IF and The Instigators – both scheduled for a 2024 release date – and Unstoppable (release TBA).

Matt Damon Praises Wife During Interview With ‘Jake’s Takes’

On July 8, Matt Damon appeared in yet another interview with his Oppenheimer co-stars – this interview was with Jake Hamilton on his Jake’s Takes channel. He talked about a low point in his life – which came midway through the production of a film he was working on – and how his wife helped him through it. 

“And I remember halfway through production and you’ve still got months to go and you’ve taken your family somewhere, you know, and you’ve inconvenienced them, and I remember my wife pulling me up because I fell into a depression about it — like, ‘What have I done?’” he said of the trivial moment. 

He didn’t disclose what film he was working on, but he explained how he was unhappy with how the film was turning out and described it as one of those films that ‘might not be what you had hoped it would be.’ Nonetheless, he had to stay professional and finish the film – something his wife helped him realize. 

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“I do pride myself, in a large part because of her, at being a professional actor,” Matt Damon said. “You go and you do the 15-hour day and give it absolutely everything, even in what you know is going to be a losing effort. If you can do that with the best possible attitude, then you’re a pro. And she really helped me with that.”