MATT DAMON - DAMON ALMOST MISSED OUT ON SAVING PRIVATE RYAN TWICE

DAMON ALMOST MISSED OUT ON SAVING PRIVATE RYAN TWICE

MATT DAMON almost missed out on his leading role in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN twice - because director STEVEN SPIELBERG didn't get his audition tape and thought the actor was too thin. It was only when Damon's GOOD WILL HUNTING co-star ROBIN WILLIAMS introduced the movie mogul to the young actor that Spielberg realised he had found his Ryan. During the introductory meeting, Spielberg told Damon he loved his role in COURAGE UNDER FIRE but ruled him out as Ryan because he felt he was too thin. Damon lost 40 pounds (18.14 kilograms) to play heroin addict ILARIO in the 1996 film. He recalls, "(He said) 'What movie have you been in?' and I said, 'I was in a movie called Courage Under Fire,' and he said, 'Yeah... I loved you in that movie... I wanted you to play Private Ryan but I thought you were too skinny.'"