Director Christopher Nolan, known for his distinctive filmmaking approach, operates without a cell phone, and actor Matt Damon recently detailed how the acclaimed director gets in touch.
Damon revealed that Nolan's wife, producer Emma Thomas, typically reaches out first. Thomas will text Damon to see if he is available for a call, as Nolan himself does not use a phone for communication. Following this notification, Nolan then calls from a public line, often at Universal Studios, to discuss potential projects.
"[Emma Thomas] had texted me, 'Are you around for a call today?' Because Chris famously doesn't have a phone," Damon told People. Thomas, he explained, "always gives you a heads-up if he’s going to call." He added that the call itself comes "from a nondescript number, because he’s just picking up a line at Universal Studios."
Damon recalled receiving such a call from Nolan to discuss the role of Odysseus in the recently released film The Odyssey. The conversation occurred about six months after the Academy Awards ceremony where Nolan's film Oppenheimer received significant accolades.
Nolan and Thomas, who have collaborated on all of Nolan's films since 1997, met at University College London. They have four children together.
Damon also spoke about the demanding nature of filming The Odyssey, noting that some scenes, particularly those involving raft sequences that were too dangerous to shoot on open water, were filmed on a tank. He described one instance where Nolan poured water over his face while he was lying down, humorously remarking, "This is perfect. We’re ending this with waterboarding."
The actor also touched on overcoming personal phobias during the production, including claustrophobia, which he experienced while filming scenes involving a Trojan horse.
The Odyssey features a large ensemble cast, including Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Tom Holland, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal, and John Leguizamo. The film is currently in theaters.