Actor Matt Damon has shared a key element of his two-decade marriage to Luciana Barroso: a commitment to nightly family dinners.
"We have family dinner every night, and that’s non-negotiable, and it’s always been that way," Damon told People. The couple, married since 2005, have four daughters: Alexia, 27, Isabella, 20, Gia, 17, and Stella, 15. Two of their daughters have already left home, with the younger two still residing with them.
Damon acknowledged that even with this established routine, maintaining presence can be a challenge. He recalled one instance when a daughter pointed out, "Well, family dinner, last night we didn’t talk." This realization prompted the couple to reflect on how they could better appreciate the purpose behind their tradition.
"That’s the kind of family mindfulness we’re all working on," Damon said, emphasizing their collective effort to be more attentive during these shared moments. He and Barroso are also discussing the shift towards becoming empty nesters, noting, "We’ve been talking a lot about presence and about really trying to be in the moment."
Damon also recounted a humorous anecdote about Barroso's initial impression of his longtime friend and collaborator Ben Affleck. He learned months into their relationship that Barroso and her best friend had gone to see "Good Will Hunting" together, with her friend thinking Damon was the attractive one and Barroso favoring Affleck.
In other news, Damon stars in Christopher Nolan's new epic "The Odyssey," an adaptation of Homer's classic tale. The film, which was shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras and had a reported $250 million budget, was released on Friday. Damon portrays Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway playing his wife, Penelope. Nolan has described the project as his "most extreme" undertaking to date.