Sami Aaltomaa lands Hollywood stunt role in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

Sami Aaltomaa, a stunt performer from Oulunsalo, has landed a role in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey, appearing alongside Matt Damon.

The journey began in February 2025 when Aaltomaa, inspired during a sauna session, contacted a London-based stunt agency specialising in stunt performers. After an initial inquiry, he was invited to a two-hour audition and later offered the role of a “special action extra,” responsible for rowing in large-scale ship sequences.

Aaltomaa spent three and a half months on set across locations in Greece, Italy, Iceland, and Scotland. Production days started as early as 3:30 a.m., with cast and crew undergoing makeup, costume fittings, and safety briefings before filming began.

He described the experience as physically demanding yet rewarding, noting the camaraderie among the 70-person rowing team, which included world champions and circus artists. Aaltomaa also had multiple opportunities to work closely with Matt Damon during shared scenes.

“It was surprising to see how down-to-earth the stars were,” Aaltomaa said. “They greeted people on the street and shared the same everyday routines on set.”

Aaltomaa’s background includes a decade of competitive swimming at the national team level, strongman competitions, and two world titles in weighted chin-ups. His agent advised diversifying his physical skills, leading him to begin training in fencing in preparation for potential Viking-themed roles.