Matt Damon cried "like a baby" when confronted with snakes on the set of 'We Bought a Zoo'.

Although he is famous for his tough guy roles, the actor wasn't keen on his slithery co-stars and was "terrified" when he had to shoot scenes with the reptiles, Scarlett Johansson has revealed.

The actress - who appears opposite Matt in the comedy-drama movie - joked to People magazine: "(I watched) Matt Damon cry like a baby and rock back and forth when the snakes were spread all over the set.

"He was pretty terrified. He was definitely sweating a bit, and maybe the sweat formed in the corner of his eye. I said, 'Matt, these kids are practically juggling the snakes. Hold it together.' "

The 41-year-old Hollywood hunk has confessed he has a phobia of snakes and has accused Scarlett - who grew up surrounded by nature of tormenting him on set over his fear.

He said: "I'm afraid of snakes. And I got bullied into interacting with them by Scarlett and the kids."

In the film, Matt plays Benjamin Mee who puts all his savings into buying a rundown zoo which he rebuilds while at the same time getting his life back on track.

It is based on a memoir by Benjamin Mee which chronicles the tribulations of him and his family when they used all their cash to purchase dilapidated Dartmoor Zoological Park, located in South West England, in 2006 to refurbish it and re-open it to the public in 2007.