Matt Damon Says Wife Luciana Thought Ben Affleck, Not Him, Was the “Cute” One in Good Will Hunting

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been the ultimate Hollywood duo for decades, but a hilarious new revelation suggests that Damon wasn’t always the first choice in his own household.

During a Monday, January 12, appearance on The Howard Stern Show, the 55-year-old actor admitted that when he first met his wife, Luciana Barroso, her eyes were actually on his best friend.

“This is f***** completely true,” Damon told Stern, explaining that early in their relationship, Barroso confessed she and a high school friend had seen Good Will Hunting together. While the friend thought Damon was the attractive one, Luciana apparently had a crush on Affleck. Damon joked about his disbelief at the time, recalling his reaction as, “You got the wrong one?!”

Affleck, who joined Damon for the interview, laughed off the old crush, noting that the three are now close friends and frequent professional collaborators. “I never got that vibe from her. So I think something I did in real life rubbed it off,” Affleck quipped, suggesting his real-world personality may have cured her of the fascination. Damon added that once Luciana finally met Ben in person, any romanticized notion “all went away.”

The lighthearted conversation highlighted the enduring bond between the two stars, who famously won an Oscar together in 1997. Damon met Barroso in 2003 while filming Stuck on You in Miami, a meeting he describes as life-changing. He admitted to Stern that he was so enamored with her that night that he completely forgot who he was with until years later.

While their personal lives are full of humor, the pair’s professional slate for 2026 is incredibly serious. The duo is set to star together in the crime thriller The Rip, which premieres on Netflix this Friday, January 16. Directed by Joe Carnahan, the film follows a team of Miami cops who find themselves in a moral tailspin after discovering millions of dollars in a derelict stash house.

Damon is also preparing for what many consider the role of a lifetime in Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation of The Odyssey. Scheduled for release on July 17, 2026, the film stars Damon as the legendary King Odysseus.

The massive production features an ensemble cast including Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya, and was filmed using groundbreaking IMAX technology.

Meanwhile, Affleck is pulling double duty as director and star in the upcoming political thriller Animals. Originally intended to star Damon, the lead role went to Affleck due to Damon’s filming conflicts with the Nolan project. The Netflix film features a powerhouse cast including Gillian Anderson, Kerry Washington, and Steven Yeun, centered on a mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped.

Damon has also stepped into a prestigious narrating role for NBC’s coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. His voice will be a staple for viewers throughout February, anchoring the “Our Games” promotional campaign that connects the struggles of world-class athletes to the themes of destiny and perseverance.

Despite the busy schedules and high-stakes projects, the two friends remain grounded in their shared history. From winning Oscars as youngsters to producing major features through their company, Artists Equity, they have navigated Hollywood’s highs and lows together. As Affleck put it during the interview, their partnership is a “beautiful, lovely thing” that has only improved with time.

What do you think about Luciana Barroso initially choosing Ben over Matt, do you think Ben is still the “cute one” of the duo? Share your thoughts in the comments.