Matt Damon: Daughters In Awe Of Meeting Mandela

George Pimentel/WireImage

Having a parent in the public eye certainly brings about its fair share of perks. For Matt Damon‘s daughters, having a famous dad recently meant a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with Nelson Mandela.

“That was one of the great thrills of my life,” the actor raves during a recent appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.

While in Africa filming his latest movie Invictus, Matt and his wife Luciana were approached about a possible get-together with the former South African president. “They said, ‘Madiba is going to be nearby and we could go see him,” he recalls.

The couple initially turned down the offer. “My wife and I said, ‘You know what, we would rather give him the gift of five minutes where he doesn’t have to take a picture and make small talk with somebody,’” he admits.

Insisting that he was up for the visit, the Damons’ excitement quickly turned to shock when it was suggested they bring along their three girls as well.

“So we did … it was amazing to watch him,” he marvels. “Lucy and I didn’t even talk to him, we just let him hang out with the kids. He bounced them on his knee.”

Noting that it was “great to watch the kids get that they were in the presence” of Mandela, the actor was struck by 3 ½-year-old Isabella‘s insight minutes prior to the special occasion.

“We were standing outside waiting for security to invite us into the hotel room and I was holding her,” he shares. “Whether it was my heart beat or something she just figured out. She turned and looked at the door and then she looked at me and said, ‘Daddy, who’s behind that door?’”

And while Alexia, 11, was a bit more aware of the importance — having just completed a “mini-course” on Mandela when a few of her classmates joined her in Africa — Matt’s two younger daughters were equally mesmerized.

“[Isabella] and [Gia Zavala, 18 months] couldn’t take their eyes off him. They just were looking at each other, completely locked on each other the entire time.”

Source: Late Show with David Letterman

– Anya

Comments

That is a wonderful and rare experience. It’s amazing that Matt, Luciana and their girls were able to experience something such as meeting Nelson Mandela. Amazing

- Monique on March 11th, 2010

I doubt the youngest two understood it at all. The oldest probably had a great experience, though.

- Tess on March 11th, 2010

I don’t think that Matt meant that the younger two understood that they were meeting Nelson Mandela. He said that they knew it was something special and when they saw him they were mesmerized. That is a great story – Thank you for sharing!

- Heather on March 11th, 2010

The girls were picking up on their parent’s excitement. I remember as a child meeting people and understanding that they were important by picking up on my parents actions, even if I didn’t know why they were of importance.

- meghan on March 11th, 2010

Wow, what an amazing experiance.

- Kelsey on March 11th, 2010

I’m not usually that jealous of celebrities, but now I am! Meeting Nelson Mandela must have been an awe-inspiring event. Lucky family!

- Janna on March 11th, 2010

OMG they sure are lucky, i even doubt that Nelson Mandela would have given Matt and his wife that much attention with the kids around, He Loves children, and he gives them all of his attention.

- True on March 12th, 2010

The article says that Matt said it was “great to watch the kids get that they were in the presence” of Mandela.

Kids, plural. And that’s the part that I think is ridiculous, as the younger two surely don’t “get” that they were in Mandela’s presence.

- Tess on March 12th, 2010

The littlest two more than likely aren’t going to be in the sandbox going “OMG did you know who I met?” but even when you’re little you can get the impression something important’s going on and importantly, they get to understand as they grow up that it’s through Daddy’s work that allows them to have privileges such as this.

To them it’s probable that they don’t get it’s Nelson, but that it’s a nice man who played with them and bounced them on his knee.

Now ALEXIA on the other hand, yes this will have had far more impact on her imo.

- Nicky on March 12th, 2010

I agree with everyone else. I bet the two little ones were staring at him because Matt was staring at him. I always did whatever my dad did. Plus at that age, it’s natural to imitate your parent. I’m sure they really didn’t know who Nelson Mandella is. I don’t even know who he is! Matt seems like a good dad.

- Sarah on March 12th, 2010

for those who don’t know who nelson mandela is… he led the fight against apartheid in south africa and was jailed for 27 years because of it. when he was released he ran for president of his country as a supporter of multi-racial democracy and won by a large margin. he is also a nobel peace prize winner:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela

- fuzibuni on March 12th, 2010

Sarah – Nelson Mandela was president of South Africa. He was elected after being released from prison where he was held for about 30 years for his anti-apartheid protests.

- Tess on March 12th, 2010

I think I would also be in awe of meeting Nelson Mandela. There are a lot of celebrities in the world but meeting someone like Mandela….now that would be worth all the celebrities put together and then some. I think thats awesome the whole family met him

- Brownsugar1313 on March 15th, 2010

Awww! I am so jellous! Both m brother and me dream of meeting Mandela since we were kids. Our parents have met him and they where awstruck by him (and they are not easily awestruck by anyone) and said he had a larger than life personality (I am not really sure how to describe it otherwise since English is not my mother tongue). I don’t doubt that the youngest daughers could have been impressed and mesmerized by him without knowing who he was, both due to their parents feelings towards him and due to his own personality. I am soooo jellous!

- MiB on March 16th, 2010