Washington, July 26 (ANI): Actor Matt Damon says that the role of screen spy Jason Bourne, which he plays in 'The Bourne Identity' franchise, has saved his film career.

He insists that he was on the verge being sidelined after his films 'All The Pretty Horses' and 'The Legend of Bagger Vance' bombed.

The star asserts had he not been offered Bourne's character at that time, his whole career would have been over.

"Jason Bourne saved my life. The weekend The Bourne Identity opened in 2001 I was doing a play in London's West End and I hadn't had a film offer in six months because I'd had a couple of movies tank," he has been quoted as saying by entertainment website Contactmusic.

Damon says that, initially, there was word in the industry that the first Bourne flick could also flop, but contrary to that belief it won him 20 to 30 film offers.

"The word was that the first Bourne movie was also going badly, because it had been delayed so long and had so many rounds of re-shooting. It had all the hallmarks of a turkey," he says.

"So I went from my final night of doing This Is Our Youth on the Friday, to the Sunday when I had 20 to 30 movie offers, just based on the opening weekend of The Bourne Identity," he adds. (ANI)