Estonian volunteer joins Odyssey crew and gives Matt Damon chocolate

Estonian Tarmo Tähepõld joined the crew of a Viking ship used in Christopher Nolan’s film Odyssey by chance and appeared briefly on screen, ERR’s Ringvaade reported. During breaks, he also gave actor Matt Damon a bar of Kalev chocolate.

Tähepõld was invited to volunteer aboard the ship in February 2025 after meeting Kerstin Karu at a birthday party. Karu is connected with the volunteers of Draaken Harald Hårfagre, described as the world’s largest Viking ship.

He initially agreed to travel to Sicily to help maintain the ship for filming, rather than to appear in the movie. He flew there in early April and learned beforehand that the vessel would be used in Nolan’s film.

The production later decided to use the real ship’s crew in the scenes. Tähepõld said at least 30 people who knew how to operate the ship and its equipment were needed to sail it, making it impractical to put random actors in charge.

“Then the decision was made halfway through that the ship’s crew would put on costumes and go,” he told Ringvaade.

The set was subject to strict secrecy rules. Tähepõld said that, before he arrived, one person had already been removed from the set after a video discussing the ship’s connection to the film spread online.

Tähepõld recognised himself immediately when he saw the film because he knew exactly which scene he had taken part in. He appears on screen for about one second, he said, although filming the scene took an entire day.

Actors were not supposed to be disturbed while resting, but during breaks they stayed on the same ship as the rest of the crew. Damon also remained aboard rather than being taken elsewhere to rest.

On one occasion, Tähepõld offered Damon Kalev chocolate. “He liked it,” Tähepõld said with a smile.

Another day, Tähepõld accidentally woke Damon, who was resting under a pile of ropes. He did not initially know who was there.

“I nudged him and said that filming was starting, and then he came out from underneath. He was very friendly,” Tähepõld said, adding that the actors did not appear separate from the rest of the crew or behave like stars.

Tähepõld spent four weeks in Sicily and was later invited to Scotland for another three weeks, spending seven weeks in total on the production. He was not paid, but the organisers covered his flights and accommodation.

Although he was not listed separately in the end credits because the entire ship’s crew was grouped together, Tähepõld said he had no reason to complain.

“Seven weeks of a great holiday in such company. I’m not complaining,” he said.

After the film’s premiere, Tähepõld travelled to Oslo, where the ship’s owner organised a two-night party and invited the ship’s crew who had taken part in filming.