View source for Matthew McConaughey

{{Short description|American actor (born 1969)}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|McConaughey|McConnaughey}}
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{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
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{{Infobox person
| name               = Matthew McConaughey
| image              = Matthew McConaughey 2019 (48648344772).jpg
|caption             = McConaughey in 2019
| birth_name         = Matthew David McConaughey
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1969|11|04}}
| birth_place        = [[Uvalde, Texas]], U.S.
| alma_mater         = [[University of Texas at Austin]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1991–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Camila Alves]]|2012}}
| children           = 3
| works              = [[Matthew McConaughey filmography|Full list]]
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Matthew McConaughey|Full list]]
}}

'''Matthew David McConaughey''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|k|ɒ|n|ə|h|eɪ}} {{Respell|mə|KON|ə|hay}}; born November 4, 1969) is an American actor. He achieved his breakthrough with a supporting performance in the coming-of-age comedy ''[[Dazed and Confused (film)|Dazed and Confused]]'' (1993). After a number of supporting roles, his first success as a leading man came in the legal drama ''[[A Time to Kill (1996 film)|A Time to Kill]]'' (1996). His career progressed with lead roles in the science fiction film ''[[Contact (1997 American film)|Contact]]'' (1997), the historical drama ''[[Amistad (film)|Amistad]]'' (1997), and the war film ''[[U-571 (film)|U-571]]'' (2000).

In the 2000s, McConaughey became known for starring in romantic comedies, including ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'' (2001), ''[[How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days]]'' (2003), ''[[Failure to Launch]]'' (2006), ''[[Fool's Gold (2008 film)|Fool's Gold]]'' (2008), and ''[[Ghosts of Girlfriends Past]]'' (2009), establishing him as a [[sex symbol]]. In 2011, after a two-year hiatus from film acting, McConaughey began to appear in more dramatic roles, beginning with the legal drama ''[[The Lincoln Lawyer (film)|The Lincoln Lawyer]]''. In 2012, he gained wider praise for his roles as a stripper in ''[[Magic Mike]]'' and a fugitive in ''[[Mud (2012 film)|Mud]]''.

McConaughey's portrayal of [[Ron Woodroof]], a cowboy diagnosed with [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]], in the biopic ''[[Dallas Buyers Club]]'' (2013) earned him widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]]. He followed it with a supporting role in ''[[The Wolf of Wall Street (2013 film)|The Wolf of Wall Street]]'' (2013), and a starring role as [[Rust Cohle]] in the [[True Detective (season 1)|first season]] of [[HBO]]'s crime anthology series ''[[True Detective]]'' (2014), for which he was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]]. His subsequent film roles include starring in ''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]'' (2014) and ''[[The Gentlemen (2019 film)|The Gentlemen]]'' (2019), as well as voice work in ''[[Kubo and the Two Strings]]'' (2016), ''[[Sing (2016 American film)|Sing]]'' (2016), ''[[Sing 2]]'' (2021), and ''[[Deadpool & Wolverine]]'' (2024).

== Early life and education ==
Matthew David McConaughey was born on November 4, 1969, in [[Uvalde, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2023/11/04/Famous-birthdays-for-Nov-4-Matthew-McConaughey-Ralph-Macchio/7881699062460/|title=Famous birthdays for Nov. 4: Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Macchio|date=November 4, 2023|newspaper=UPI|quote= Actor Matthew McConaughey in 1969 (age 54)}}</ref><ref name="eb">{{cite web | last=Pallardy | first=Richard | title=Biography, Movies, & Facts | website=Encyclopedia Britannica | date=February 18, 2014 | url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matthew-McConaughey | access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref> He has Irish heritage, particularly from the [[County Cavan]]/[[County Monaghan]] area.<ref name="IC">{{cite news|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/proud-irish-american-matthew-mcconaughey-hope-to-send-his-kids-to-the-gaeltacht-video |title=Matthew McConaughey hopes to send his kids to the Gaeltacht |publisher=IrishCentral |date=June 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929072838/https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/proud-irish-american-matthew-mcconaughey-hope-to-send-his-kids-to-the-gaeltacht-video|archive-date=September 29, 2016|quote=[McConaughey wants] his children to be immersed in the culture and [[craic]] of Ireland and that he hopes that he too can learn ''a cupla focail'' (a little Irish) along the way. "I gotta keep up the [[Goidelic languages|Gaelic]]. I want them reading the literature. I want [[Riverdance|Riverdancing]]. I want them saying 'grand' and 'lunatic" to the marvelous," said McConaughey. "When they're older, I want to send them to that [[Gaeltacht#Irish colleges|Irish language summer camp]] you guys do. It's like a rite of passage for you guys, isn't it? When you're teenagers. I want them fluent – which means I gotta do a crash course too."|url-status=live}}</ref> His mother, Mary Kathleen <!--Do NOT put nicknames here, like "Kay"/"KMac", Kathleen is fine--> (née McCabe), a published author and a former kindergarten teacher,<ref name="Don't Call Matthew McConaughey 'Matt'">{{cite web|title=Don't Call Matthew McConaughey 'Matt'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UliCFpBZdjU|access-date=May 21, 2017|date=January 25, 2017|work=[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company]]|location=New York City|at=19 sec|quote="&#91;[[Jimmy Kimmel]]&#93;:''Your mom was your kindergarten teacher?'' Yes. Yes.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323121249/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UliCFpBZdjU|archive-date=March 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> was from [[Trenton, New Jersey]].<ref name="cohen1996">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/his-time-kill?fullpage=1 |title=His Time to Kill |magazine=[[Texas Monthly]] |date=August 1996 |first=Jason |last=Cohen |access-date=October 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029042353/https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/his-time-to-kill/|archive-date=October 29, 2018|url-status=live|quote=Big Jim ran a Texaco station in Uvalde, but in 1980{{snd}}boom time{{snd}}he moved the family to Longview and went into the pipe business. McConaughey's mother, Kay, was a [[Trenton, New Jersey]]-born schoolteacher, and in the course of 39 years she and Big Jim were twice divorced and twice remarried (Big Jim died in 1992). Nevertheless, it was a fairly religious, no-nonsense family with a few simple rules: no lying, no back talk, and, McConaughey remembers, "You could never say 'I can't.'"}}</ref> His father, James Donald McConaughey, also had Irish roots.<ref name ="IC"/> He was born in [[Mississippi]] in 1929 and raised in [[Louisiana]]<ref name="schruers1996">{{cite web |first=Fred |last=Schruers |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/matthew-mcconaughey-19960822 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203103116/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/matthew-mcconaughey-19960822|archive-date=February 3, 2015|title=Hot Actor: Matthew McConaughey |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=August 22, 1996 |access-date=June 16, 2018|quote=Jim McConaughey was born in [[Mississippi]] in 1929 and raised in [[Morgan City, Louisiana|Morgan City, La.]], and was 6 feet 2 inches and 220 pounds when he started playing defensive end for college coaching legend [[Bear Bryant]] (with whom he shared a nickname) at the [[University of Kentucky]]. He moved on before Bear did and played his last two years at the [[University of Houston]], winning a watch as the conference's most improved player before being drafted by the [[Green Bay Packers]] in 1953. Before long, though, he was back in Texas with his bride, Kay, ending up in Uvalde (population today: 15,000). "Matthew was an accident," insists Rooster.}}</ref> where he ran an oil pipe supply business; he played for the [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky Wildcats]] and the [[Houston Cougars football|Houston Cougars]] college football teams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2014/02/24/3107024_mark-story-matthew-mcconaugheys.html|title=Mark Story: Matthew McConaughey's dad played college football for ... Kentucky? |publisher=kentucky.com |date=February 24, 2014 |first=Mark |last=Story |access-date=October 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626105230/http://www.kentucky.com/2014/02/24/3107024_mark-story-matthew-mcconaugheys.html?rh=1 |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Jim was selected by the [[Green Bay Packers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) in the 27th round of the [[1953 NFL draft]]. He was released before the season began and never played an official league game in the NFL.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=GNB&yr=1953&lg=nfl |title=1953 Green Bay Packers |access-date=May 24, 2013 |publisher=databasefootball.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408062212/http://databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=GNB&yr=1953&lg=nfl |archive-date=April 8, 2013 }}</ref> McConaughey's parents married each other three times, having divorced each other twice.<ref name="marriage">{{cite web |website=ABC7news.com |title=Barbara Walters' Oscar Special |url=http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=entertainment&id=3949579 |access-date=April 15, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204064645/http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=entertainment&id=3949579 | archive-date=December 4, 2007 }}</ref> He has two older brothers, Michael and Patrick (who was adopted).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-matthew-mcconaughey/ |title=Interesting facts about Matthew McConaughey |date=September 2017 |access-date=July 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704234117/http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-matthew-mcconaughey/ |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Michael, nicknamed "Rooster", is a millionaire who starred in the [[CNBC]] docu-series ''[[West Texas Investors Club]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inc.com/graham-winfrey/west-texas-investor-s-club-invades-shark-tank-nation.html |title=Meet the Self-Made Millionaires of 'West Texas Investors Club' |website=Inc.com |first=Graham |last=Winfrey |date=August 11, 2015 |access-date=August 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812235645/http://www.inc.com/graham-winfrey/west-texas-investor-s-club-invades-shark-tank-nation.html |archive-date=August 12, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The family were [[Methodism|Methodist]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/movies/news/article.cfm?c_id=200&objectid=188381 |title=No use putting out the welcome Matt |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=May 12, 2001 |access-date=August 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609014753/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/movies/news/article.cfm?c_id=200&objectid=188381 |archive-date=June 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

He is a relative of [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] brigadier general [[Dandridge McRae]].<ref name="Scottish">{{cite web |work=Metro |title=60 Second interview: Matthew McConaughey |date=April 7, 2006 |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=11644&in_page_id=11 |access-date=May 7, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513072916/http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=11644&in_page_id=11 |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

McConaughey moved to [[Longview, Texas]], in 1980<ref name="cohen1996" /> and later attended [[Longview High School]]. In 1988 he went to Australia thinking he would be attending a high school in [[Sydney]]. Instead he lived in [[Warnervale]], [[New South Wales]] for a year while he went to [[Gorokan High School]] (he was a [[Rotary Youth Exchange]] student) and worked as an assistant for an attorney and as a bank teller for [[Australia and New Zealand Banking Group|ANZ]].<ref name="exchange">{{cite web | last=Barnes | first=Denice | title=Oscar winner's Aussie affair | website=The Daily Telegraph | date=March 4, 2014 | url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/oscar-winner-matthew-mcconaugheys-aussie-love-affair-began-with-a-chance-meeting-in-texas/news-story/b32c5de119e599d45ce9327b4b3fa3a7 | access-date=April 14, 2021 | archive-date=March 13, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313035937/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/oscar-winner-matthew-mcconaugheys-aussie-love-affair-began-with-a-chance-meeting-in-texas/news-story/b32c5de119e599d45ce9327b4b3fa3a7 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/simply-the-jest/neighbours/13267046|title=You swam in George Harrison's pool!|date=March 26, 2021|website=triple j|access-date=May 11, 2023|archive-date=October 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024001046/https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/simply-the-jest/neighbours/13267046|url-status=live}}</ref>

He attended the [[University of Texas at Austin]] (UT-Austin), where he joined the [[Delta Tau Delta]] fraternity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.studenthousingplanet.com/2009/03/the-castilian-dorm-serving-the-university-of-texas-receives-upgrades-prcom.html |title=The Castilian Dorm Serving the University of Texas Receives Upgrades (PR.com) |publisher=Student Housing Planet |date=March 26, 2009 |access-date=October 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912071435/http://www.studenthousingplanet.com/2009/03/the-castilian-dorm-serving-the-university-of-texas-receives-upgrades-prcom.html |archive-date=September 12, 2009 }}</ref> He began in the fall of 1989 and graduated in the spring of 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film.<ref>[https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/degree/degrees/nlogon/?s_last_name_read=&s_last_isn_read=&s_first_name_read=&s_first_isn_read=&s_first_time_sw=X&s_start_name=McConaughey%2C+Matthew&s_start_page=Submit Degrees and Dates of Attendance: McConaughey, Matthew D.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829165648/https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/degree/degrees/nlogon/?s_last_name_read=&s_last_isn_read=&s_first_name_read=&s_first_isn_read=&s_first_time_sw=X&s_start_name=McConaughey%2C+Matthew&s_start_page=Submit |date=August 29, 2019 }}. University of Texas at Austin</ref>

His original plan changed as he had wanted to attend [[Southern Methodist University]] until one of his brothers told him that private-school tuition would have been a burden on the family's finances. He had planned to attend law school after graduation from college<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/02/21/280711996/matthew-mcconaughey-getting-serious-again |title=Matthew McConaughey, Getting Serious Again |work=Fresh Air |publisher=National Public Radio |date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227231016/https://www.npr.org/2014/02/21/280711996/matthew-mcconaughey-getting-serious-again |archive-date=December 27, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> but discovered he did not have any interest in becoming a lawyer.<ref name="cohen1996" />

== Career ==

=== Early 1990s–2000: Breakthrough and rise to prominence ===
In the early 1990s. McConaughey began working in television commercials.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Matthew McConaughey |url=http://www.biography.com/people/matthew-mcconaughey-16599996 |publisher=[[Biography.com]] |access-date=August 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031183007/http://www.biography.com/people/matthew-mcconaughey-16599996 |archive-date=October 31, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1992, he was cast as the boyfriend in the music video for "[[Walkaway Joe]]", a song by [[Trisha Yearwood]] featuring [[Don Henley]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Matthew McConaughey's First Break? A 1992 Trisha Yearwood Video |url=https://people.com/awards/matthew-mcconaugheys-first-break-a-1992-trisha-yearwood-video/ |first=Gillian |last=Telling |access-date=March 9, 2019 |work=People |date=March 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219213019/http://people.com/awards/matthew-mcconaugheys-first-break-a-1992-trisha-yearwood-video/ |archive-date=December 19, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Also that year, he acted in an episode of ''[[Unsolved Mysteries]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Matthew McConaughey Made His Television Debut in the Original Unsolved Mysteries Series|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/matthew-mcconaughey-made-his-television-debut-in-the-original-unsolved-mysteries-series/ar-BB16gPO3|access-date=October 24, 2020|publisher=MSN|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204015936/https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/matthew-mcconaughey-made-his-television-debut-in-the-original-unsolved-mysteries-series/ar-BB16gPO3|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Bob Balaban]]'s [[My Boyfriend's Back (1993 film)|''My Boyfriend's Back'']] premiered on August 6, 1993, where McConaughey made his first big screen appearance as <nowiki>''Guy 2''</nowiki>.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59611-MY-BOYFRIENDS-BACK?cxt=filmography|access-date=October 24, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026231029/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59611-MY-BOYFRIENDS-BACK?cxt=filmography|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 24, [[Richard Linklater]]'s [[Dazed and Confused (film)|''Dazed and Confused'']] premiered.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67040-DAZED-ANDCONFUSED?sid=c6b47623-a854-416c-a4c8-f2cc4b307b46&sr=12.165825&cp=1&pos=0|access-date=October 24, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027033933/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67040-DAZED-ANDCONFUSED?sid=c6b47623-a854-416c-a4c8-f2cc4b307b46&sr=12.165825&cp=1&pos=0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="halperin2012">{{Cite news|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matthew-mcconaughey-wooderson-dazed-confused-butch-walker-283627|title=Matthew McConaughey Reprises 'Dazed and Confused' Breakout Role for Music Video|last=Halperin|first=Shirley|date=January 20, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124114538/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matthew-mcconaughey-wooderson-dazed-confused-butch-walker-283627|archive-date=January 24, 2012|access-date=June 14, 2022}}</ref><ref name="grossman2015">{{cite news|url=https://time.com/3665375/matthew-mcconaughey-dazed-and-confused-audition-tape/|title=Treat Yourself to Matthew McConaughey's Dazed and Confused Audition Tape|last=Grossman|first=Samantha|date=January 13, 2015|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120214357/https://time.com/3665375/matthew-mcconaughey-dazed-and-confused-audition-tape/|archive-date=November 20, 2019|access-date=June 14, 2022}}</ref><ref name="ihnat2017">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/matthew-mcconaughey-deconstructs-his-signature-phrase-i-1798534482|title=Matthew McConaughey deconstructs his signature phrase in this exclusive clip|last=Ihnat|first=Gwen|date=June 29, 2017|work=The AV Club|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829185419/https://www.avclub.com/matthew-mcconaughey-deconstructs-his-signature-phrase-i-1798534482|archive-date=August 29, 2017|access-date=June 14, 2022}}</ref> McConaughey played Wooderson in a large ensemble cast of actors who would later become stars. He was not originally cast in the film, as the role of Wooderson was originally small and meant to be cast locally for budget purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grove |first=David |date=December 5, 2023 |title=With a Legendary Career, Matthew McConaughey's Most Iconic Role Still Holds Up Today |url=https://movieweb.com/matthew-mcconaugheys-best-role-today/ |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}}</ref> At the time of casting, he was a film student at the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] and went out with his girlfriend to the Hyatt hotel bar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://austin.eater.com/2015/11/23/9782500/matthew-mcconaughey-hyatt-bar-alamo-drathouse-franchise|title=Matthew McConaughey discovered at Hyatt, and More A.M. Intel|first=Nadia|last=Chaudhury|date=November 23, 2015|website=Eater Austin|access-date=October 24, 2020|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026215107/https://austin.eater.com/2015/11/23/9782500/matthew-mcconaughey-hyatt-bar-alamo-drathouse-franchise|url-status=live}}</ref> He approached casting director [[Don Phillips (casting director)|Don Phillips]].<ref name="Marlow">{{cite web|last=Stern|first=Marlow|date=September 24, 2013|title='Dazed and Confused' 20th Anniversary: 20 Craziest Facts About the Cult Classic|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/24/dazed-and-confused-20th-anniversary-20-craziest-facts-about-the-cult-classic|access-date=May 7, 2017|work=The Daily Beast}}</ref> Phillips recalls, "The bartender says to him, 'See that guy down there? That's Don Phillips. He cast Sean Penn in ''Fast Times''.' And Matthew goes, 'I'm gonna go down and talk to this guy.'" Phillips also recalls that Linklater didn't like McConaughey at first "because he was too handsome". During production, another character named Pickford was meant to be a larger role. Due to the behavior of the actor playing Pickford with other cast members, his screen time was cut in favor of McConaughey's character, Wooderson. Linklater recalled "There was another actor who was kind of the opposite [of McConaughey]. He wasn't really getting along with everybody. I could tell the actors weren't responding to him."<ref name="Maxim">{{cite web|last=Spitz|first=Marc|date=December 26, 2013|title=An Oral History of ''Dazed and Confused''|url=http://www.maxim.com/entertainment/oral-history-dazed-and-confused|access-date=May 7, 2017|work=Maxim|archive-date=April 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428200347/http://www.maxim.com/entertainment/oral-history-dazed-and-confused|url-status=live}}</ref> Much of the Wooderson role was improvised or written on the spot.<ref name="Maxim"/> ''Dazed and Confused'' was released on September 24, 1993, in 183 theaters, grossing $918,127 on its opening weekend. It went on to make $7.9 million in North America.<ref name="boxoffice">{{cite news|title=Dazed and Confused|work=Box Office Mojo|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dazedandconfused.htm|access-date=February 10, 2009|archive-date=January 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122003114/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dazedandconfused.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The film received positive reviews from critics. The film generally gets favorable reviews.<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web|title=Dazed and Confused Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dazed-and-confused|access-date=July 11, 2019|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|archive-date=June 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611103158/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dazed-and-confused|url-status=live}}</ref> On review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]], it has a 92% approval rating. The website's critical consensus reads: "Featuring an excellent ensemble cast, a precise feel for the 1970s, and a killer soundtrack, ''Dazed and Confused'' is a funny, affectionate, and clear-eyed look at high school life."<ref name="RottenTomatoes">{{cite web|title=Dazed and Confused (1993)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dazed_and_confused/|access-date=September 29, 2020|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |archive-date=November 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127035822/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dazed_and_confused/|url-status=live}}</ref> In her review for ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'', Marjorie Baumgarten gave particular praise to Matthew McConaughey's performance: "He is a character we're all too familiar with in the movies, but McConaughey nails this guy without a hint of condescension or whimsy, claiming this character for all time as his own".<ref name="baumgarten">{{cite news|last=Baumgarten|first=Marjorie|date=September 24, 1993|title=Dazed and Confused|work=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/1993-09-24/dazed-and-confused/|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410134730/https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/1993-09-24/dazed-and-confused/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1994, McConaughey acted in ''[[Angels in the Outfield (1994 film)|Angels in the Outfield]]'', ''[[The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre]]'', and [[Daniel Johnston]]'s music video "Life in Vain".

McConaughey acted in [[Herbert Ross]]' ''[[Boys on the Side]]'', which premiered on February 3, 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/55774-BOYS-ON-THE-SIDE?cxt=filmography|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027211249/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/55774-BOYS-ON-THE-SIDE?cxt=filmography|url-status=live}}</ref> That year he also acted in a crime thriller, [[Brian Cox (director)|Brian Cox]]'s ''[[Scorpion Spring]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Levy|first=Emanuel|date=January 15, 1996|title=Scorpion Spring|url=https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/scorpion-spring-2-1200444451/|access-date=May 12, 2020|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028204705/https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/scorpion-spring-2-1200444451/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[John Sayles]]' [[Lone Star (1996 film)|''Lone Star'']] (1996) is a neo-Western mystery film set in a small town in [[South Texas]]. McConaughey is in an ensemble cast that features [[Chris Cooper]], [[Kris Kristofferson]], and [[Elizabeth Peña]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/60477-LONE-STAR?cxt=filmography|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204020048/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/60477-LONE-STAR?cxt=filmography|url-status=live}}</ref> McConaughey played the lawyer Jake Brigance in [[Joel Schumacher]]'s ''[[A Time to Kill (1996 film)|A Time to Kill]]'' which premiered July 24.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/60596-A-TIMETOKILL?sid=644b3fef-af3a-45a4-aa6f-7572bd5f4881&sr=11.445523&cp=1&pos=0|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204063731/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/60596-A-TIMETOKILL?sid=644b3fef-af3a-45a4-aa6f-7572bd5f4881&sr=11.445523&cp=1&pos=0|url-status=live}}</ref> The film is based on the [[John Grisham]] courtroom crime novel of the [[A Time to Kill (Grisham novel)|same name]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Watch the moment Matthew McConaughey proved he was Oscar-worthy |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2014/03/03/matthew-mcconaughey-a-time-to-kill |access-date=October 2, 2015 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006133217/http://www.ew.com/article/2014/03/03/matthew-mcconaughey-a-time-to-kill |archive-date=October 6, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In an ensemble piece McConaughey, [[Sandra Bullock]], [[Samuel L. Jackson]], and [[Kevin Spacey]] share the top billing. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 67%. The critics' consensus reads: "Overlong and superficial, ''A Time to Kill'' nonetheless succeeds on the strength of its skillful craftsmanship and top-notch performances".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1072381-time_to_kill|title=A Time to Kill (1996) |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=October 25, 2020|archive-date=May 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514142216/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1072381-time_to_kill|url-status=live}}</ref> In the U.S. it reached number one during its first two weeks and grossed over $108 million domestically, and an additional $43,500,000 was made internationally.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3933505025/weekend/|title=A Time to Kill|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 25, 2020|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402112936/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=timetokill.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[MTV Movie & TV Awards|MTV Movie Awards]], McConaughey won Best Breakthrough Performance.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=June 12, 1997|title=MTV Movie awards|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61773364/mtv-movie-awards/|journal=Statesman Journal|pages=32|via=Newspapers|access-date=October 25, 2020|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201160347/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61773364/mtv-movie-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Larger than Life (film)|Larger Than Life]]'' is a road comedy film starring [[Bill Murray]] and directed by [[Howard Franklin]]; McConaughey played a supporting role.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/60469-LARGER-THAN-LIFE?cxt=filmography|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206102245/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/60469-LARGER-THAN-LIFE?cxt=filmography|url-status=live}}</ref> Also that year he acted in [[Glory Daze (film)|''Glory Daze'']].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Glory Daze {{!}} TV Guide|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/glory-daze/131910|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=TV Guide|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104102542/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/glory-daze/131910/|url-status=live}}</ref> McConaughey starred in the science fiction film ''[[Contact (1997 American film)|Contact]]'' (1997), directed by [[Robert Zemeckis]], an adaptation of [[Carl Sagan]]'s 1985 [[Contact (novel)|novel of the same name]]; Sagan and his wife [[Ann Druyan]] wrote the story outline for the film. In the film [[Jodie Foster]] portrays the film's protagonist.<ref>{{cite news|author=Anita M. Busch|date=July 3, 1997|title='Contact's' starry night|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://www.variety.com/vstory/VR1116677295|access-date=January 26, 2009|archive-date=July 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703175437/http://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/contact-s-starry-night-1116677295/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Tom2">{{cite web|title=Contact (1997)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1078021-contact/|access-date=July 18, 2018|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114193910/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1078021-contact|url-status=live}}</ref> Also that year, McConaughey starred as then-lawyer [[Roger Sherman Baldwin]] in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[Amistad (film)|Amistad]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67275-AMISTAD?cxt=filmography|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204022259/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67275-AMISTAD?cxt=filmography|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[The Newton Boys]]'', co-written and directed by Richard Linklater, was released in 1998. It is based on the true story of the [[Newton Gang]], a family of bank robbers from [[Uvalde, Texas]]. In 1999, McConaughey acted in ''[[EDtv]].''<ref name="bio" /> Directed by [[Ron Howard]], its an adaptation of the Quebecois film ''[[Louis 19, King of the Airwaves]] (Louis 19, le roi des ondes)'' (1994),<ref>"EDtv a fun, fluffy Truman Show". ''[[Montreal Gazette]]'', March 26, 1999.</ref> The film was a box office bomb, grossing only $35.2 million from an $80 million production budget.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|title=EDtv (1999)|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=edtv.htm|access-date=August 15, 2011|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|archive-date=August 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825084400/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=edtv.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2000, he starred in ''[[U-571 (film)|U-571]]'', a submarine film directed by [[Jonathan Mostow]].<ref name="Rotten">{{cite web|title=U-571 (2000)|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/u571/|access-date=October 11, 2016|website=Rotten Tomatoes |archive-date=November 20, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041120060111/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/u571/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Oscars2001">{{cite web|title=The 73rd Academy Awards (2001) Nominees and Winners|url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/73rd-winners.html|access-date=November 19, 2011|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|archive-date=October 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001074103/https://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/73rd-winners.html}}</ref>

=== 2001–2011: Romantic comedies and professional expansion ===
[[File:Matthew McConaughey.jpg|thumb|upright|McConaughey in 2008, participating in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon]]

By the early 2000s, he was being cast in romantic comedies including ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'' and ''[[How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days]];'' both were successful at the box office.<ref>{{cite web |title=Matthew McConaughey: exclusive interview |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/10602734/Matthew-McConaughey-exclusive-interview.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=March 3, 2014 |access-date=August 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622002933/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/10602734/Matthew-McConaughey-exclusive-interview.html |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> These and others, such as ''[[Fool's Gold (2008 film)|Fool's Gold]]'' (2008), and ''[[Ghosts of Girlfriends Past]]'' (2009), established him as a [[sex symbol]].<ref name="pulver2013">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jun/28/matthew-mcconaughey-killer-joe|title=Matthew McConaughey: from himbo to highbrow|last=Pulver|first=Andrew|date=June 28, 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231080356/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jun/28/matthew-mcconaughey-killer-joe|archive-date=December 31, 2013|access-date=June 14, 2022}}</ref>

He appeared as a firefighter in a low-budget film, ''[[Tiptoes]]'' with [[Kate Beckinsale]], in ''[[Two for the Money (2005 film)|Two for the Money]]'' as a protégé to a gambling mogul, [[Al Pacino]], and in ''[[Frailty (2001 film)|Frailty]]'' with [[Bill Paxton]] who was also the director.<ref name="bio" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Two for the Money Film Locations – On the set of New York.com |url=http://onthesetofnewyork.com/twoforthemoney.html |website=onthesetofnewyork.com |access-date=August 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208060948/http://onthesetofnewyork.com/twoforthemoney.html |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> McConaughey acted in the 2005 feature film ''[[Sahara (2005 film)|Sahara]]''; [[Steve Zahn]] and [[Penélope Cruz]] co-starred.<ref>{{cite news |title=On a Desert Gallop, Planting Assorted Red Flags |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/08/movies/08saha.html|access-date=August 27, 2014 |work=The New York Times |date=April 8, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108060121/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/08/movies/on-a-desert-gallop-planting-assorted-red-flags.html |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to the release of the film, he promoted it by sailing down the [[Amazon River]] and trekking to [[Mali]].<ref>{{cite news |title=McConaughey's elusive quest |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/11/mcconaughey.sahara/ |access-date=August 27, 2014 |publisher=CNN |date=April 14, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827105819/http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/11/mcconaughey.sahara/ |archive-date=August 27, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year, McConaughey was named [[People (magazine)|''People'']] magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" for 2005.<ref>[http://www.people.com/people/package/custom/0,,1113899,00.html "2005 Sexiest Man of the Year"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120213301/http://www.people.com/people/package/custom/0,,1113899,00.html |date=November 20, 2012 }}. ''People''. Retrieved May 19, 2008.</ref> In 2006 he co-starred with [[Sarah Jessica Parker]] in the romantic comedy ''[[Failure to Launch]]'' and as Marshall head football coach Jack Lengyel in ''[[We Are Marshall]]''. McConaughey also provided voice work in an ad campaign for the [[Peace Corps]] in late 2006.<ref>{{cite book |last=Maugh |first=Casey Malone |title=Peace Corps in the 21st Century: A Rhetorical Analysis |page=41 |isbn=9780549430025 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AxQvw3cD0EoC&q=voice+work+matthew+mcconaughey+peace+corps&pg=PA40 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131090938/https://books.google.com/books?id=AxQvw3cD0EoC&pg=PA40&lpg=PA40&dq=voice+work+matthew+mcconaughey+peace+corps&source=bl&ots=0ipRUuY6Ev&sig=1KsFksTBAGGvhSmV7Y6mVOjGDuY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZvufUdvULYrZ0wHTsYDABg&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=voice%20work%20matthew%20mcconaughey%20peace%20corps&f=false |archive-date=January 31, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> He replaced [[Owen Wilson]] in [[Ben Stiller]]'s ''[[Tropic Thunder]]'' after Wilson's suicide attempt.<ref>{{cite web |title=Matthew McConaughey to Replace Owen Wilson in Film |url=https://people.com/celebrity/matthew-mcconaughey-to-replace-owen-wilson-in-film/ |website=People |access-date=March 9, 2019 |date=September 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814142652/http://people.com/celebrity/matthew-mcconaughey-to-replace-owen-wilson-in-film/ |archive-date=August 14, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2008 McConaughey became the new spokesman for the national radio campaign, [[National Cattlemen's Beef Association|"Beef: It's What's for Dinner"]], replacing [[Sam Elliott]].<ref>{{cite press release |title="Beef. It's What's For Dinner" Advertising Campaign Invites Consumers to Discover the Power of Protein |publisher=National Cattlemen's Beef Association |date=January 7, 2008 |url=http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/askexpert/pressrelease.asp |access-date=July 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727011043/http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/askexpert/pressrelease.asp |archive-date=July 27, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Shinn |first=Peter |title=Matthew McConaughey Movies List |publisher=Learfield Communications, Inc. |date=January 8, 2008 |url=https://putlockermix.info |access-date=December 25, 2018}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

McConaughey recognized that his "lifestyle, living on the beach, running with my shirt off, doing romantic comedies" had caused him to be typecast for certain roles, and he sought dramatic work with other themes.<ref name="fleming20140604">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/06/emmys-matthew-mcconaughey-qa-on-following-oscar-with-the-game-changing-hbo-series-true-detective-740222/ |title=EMMYS Q&A: Matthew McConaughey on Following Oscar with the Game-Changing HBO Series ' Detective' |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=June 4, 2014 |access-date=June 4, 2014 |author=Fleming, Mike Jr. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606053722/http://www.deadline.com/2014/06/emmys-matthew-mcconaughey-qa-on-following-oscar-with-the-game-changing-hbo-series-true-detective/ |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> This shift in his choice of roles has been known as the "McConaissance" between 2011 and 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/06/matthew-mcconaughey-mcconaissance-interview-exaggeration-1201979445/|title=Matthew McConaughey Looks Back at the 'McConaissance' and Why the Term Was A Bit of an Exaggeration|first1=Zack|last1=Sharf|date=June 28, 2018|access-date=May 18, 2020|archive-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811212314/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/06/matthew-mcconaughey-mcconaissance-interview-exaggeration-1201979445/|url-status=live}}</ref> He said:

{{cquote|I got to feeling like, for a few years, I was doing something that I liked to do with romantic and action comedies. But believe me, I noticed there were other things that were not coming in. And if they were coming in, it was in an independent form with a much smaller paycheck, and nobody really wanting to get behind them ... But I knew I could say no to the things I'd been doing. In saying no to those things, I knew work was going to dry up for awhile ... Year and a half, still nothing. At two years, all of a sudden, in my opinion, I became a new good idea for some good directors.<ref name="fleming20140604" />}}

=== 2011–2014: Established actor ===
[[File:Matthew McConaughey 2011.jpg|thumb|upright|McConaughey at the [[83rd Academy Awards]] in 2011]]
In 2012, McConaughey starred alongside [[Channing Tatum]] in ''[[Magic Mike]]'', based on Tatum's early life; it was directed by [[Steven Soderbergh]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Body Politic: Review: 'Magic Mike,' by Steven Soderbergh, With Channing Tatum |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/movies/magic-mike-by-steven-soderbergh-with-channing-tatum.html|access-date=August 23, 2014 |work=The New York Times |date=June 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621063008/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/movies/magic-mike-by-steven-soderbergh-with-channing-tatum.html?_r=0 |archive-date=June 21, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 2012 came ''[[Mud (2012 film)|Mud]]'', which gained him praise for his role as a fugitive.<ref name="syme2014">{{Cite magazine|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-mcconaissance|title=The McConaissance|last=Syme|first=Rachel|access-date=June 14, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014152321/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-mcconaissance|archive-date=October 14, 2019|date=January 16, 2014}}</ref>

He returned to his East Texas roots, working again with director [[Richard Linklater]] on ''[[Bernie (2011 film)|Bernie]],'' playing district attorney Danny Buck Davidson.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bernie Tiede released from prison, will live with 'Bernie' director Richard Linklater |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/05/07/bernie-tiede-released-from-prison-will-live-with-bernie-director-richard-linklater/ |access-date=August 23, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821082251/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/05/07/bernie-tiede-released-from-prison-will-live-with-bernie-director-richard-linklater/ |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2012, McConaughey was invited to join the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Arienne |title=McConaughey, Spencer invited to join Academy |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/06/mcconaughey-chastain-invited-to-join-academy-/1#.UemMNtJM-So |work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=July 19, 2013 |date=June 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403010302/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/06/mcconaughey-chastain-invited-to-join-academy-/1#.UemMNtJM-So |archive-date=April 3, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2013 he portrayed [[Ron Woodroof]] in the biographical drama ''[[Dallas Buyers Club]].'' The role of a rodeo rider who discovers he has [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] and struggles to get treatment required him to lose nearly 50&nbsp;lb (22&nbsp;kg).<ref>{{cite web |last=Ellwood |first=Gregory |title=Matthew McConaughey reveals how he lost and ponders a 'Magic Mike' sequel |url=http://www.hitfix.com/awards-campaign/oscar-contender-matthew-mcconaughey-reveals-how-he-lost--and-ponders-a-magic-mike-sequel |access-date=April 16, 2013 |work=[[HitFix]] |date=November 14, 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The film earned McConaughey numerous accolades, including the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role]], the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama|Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Drama]], and the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]].<ref name="Dallas Buyers Club 2013">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dallas_buyers_club_2013/ |title=Dallas Buyers Club (2013) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Flixster]] |access-date=January 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107094745/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dallas_buyers_club_2013/ |archive-date=January 7, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Dallas Buyers Club Reviews">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dallas-buyers-club |title=Dallas Buyers Club Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=November 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107184622/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dallas-buyers-club |archive-date=January 7, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> His co-star [[Jared Leto]] won the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for his role as Rayon, making ''Dallas Buyers Club'' the first film since ''[[Mystic River (film)|Mystic River]]'' (2003) to win both awards.<ref>{{cite news |first=Bill |last=Minutaglio |title=Buying Time: World traveler Ron Woodroof smuggles drugs{{snd}}and hope{{snd}}for people with AIDS |work=[[The Dallas Morning News|Dallas Life Magazine]] |url=http://www.buyersclubdallas.com/ |pages=8–12, 21, 25 |date=August 9, 1992 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222221448/http://www.buyersclubdallas.com/ |archive-date=February 22, 2014 }} (original article)</ref><ref name=slate110113>{{cite news |first=Aisha |last=Harris |title=How Accurate Is Dallas Buyers Club? |work=Slate |date=November 1, 2013 |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/11/01/dallas_buyers_club_true_story_fact_and_fiction_in_the_matthew_mcconaughey.html |access-date=December 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224031949/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/11/01/dallas_buyers_club_true_story_fact_and_fiction_in_the_matthew_mcconaughey.html |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was featured in [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[The Wolf of Wall Street (2013 film)|The Wolf of Wall Street]]'' as Mark Hanna, an early boss of [[Jordan Belfort]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2012/08/matthew-mcconaughey-joins-the-wolf-of-wall-street-312293/ |title=Matthew McConaughey Joins 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' |first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming |date=August 2, 2012 |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122204838/https://deadline.com/2012/08/matthew-mcconaughey-joins-the-wolf-of-wall-street-312293/ |archive-date=November 22, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> During this time, McConaughey recorded a public service announcement in Austin, Texas for the [[LBJ Presidential Library]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Salamon|first=Jeff|title=Matthew McConaughey Has A Presidents' Day Gift For You|url=http://www.lbjlibrary.org/press/how-has-lbj-s-legacy-affected-you|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305215719/http://www.lbjlibrary.org/press/how-has-lbj-s-legacy-affected-you|archive-date=March 5, 2013|access-date=February 18, 2013|work=Texas Monthly}}</ref>

[[File:Matthew McConaughey Cannes 2015.jpg|thumb|upright|McConaughey at the [[2015 Cannes Film Festival]]]]

In April 2014, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine included McConaughey in its annual [[Time 100]] as one of the "Most Influential People in the World".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Matthew McConaughey: The most surprising actor in Hollywood |first=Richard |last=Linklater |url=http://time.com/70802/matthew-mcconaughey-2014-time-100/ |access-date=May 7, 2014 |date=April 23, 2014 |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424143129/http://time.com/70802/matthew-mcconaughey-2014-time-100/ |archive-date=April 24, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2014, the [[Lincoln Motor Company]] signed a multi-year collaboration with McConaughey for an ad campaign. The commercials, directed by [[Nicolas Winding Refn]] (''[[Drive (2011 film)|Drive]]''), featured McConaughey as a storyteller driving a Lincoln's [[Lincoln MKC|MKC]] crossover.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://media.lincoln.com/content/lincolnmedia/lna/us/en/news/2014/08/21/lincoln-mcconaughey-begin-new-creative-journey.html |title=Lincoln Motor Company and Matthew McConaughey Begin New Creative Journey |date=August 21, 2014 |access-date=March 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091355/https://media.lincoln.com/content/lincolnmedia/lna/us/en/news/2014/08/21/lincoln-mcconaughey-begin-new-creative-journey.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after the commercials debuted in September 2014, they were parodied by [[Ellen DeGeneres]], [[Conan O'Brien]], [[Jim Carrey]], ''[[South Park]],'' and ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. Overall sales for Lincoln increased by 25 percent one month after the ads debuted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-matthew-mcconaughey-ads-lincoln-760569 |title=New Matthew McConaughey Ads for Lincoln to Debut New Year's Day (Video) |last=Walker |first=Michael |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=December 29, 2014 |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120230643/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-matthew-mcconaughey-ads-lincoln-760569 |archive-date=November 20, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The series of commercials starring McConaughey continued for several more years; during this period he also endorsed the [[Lincoln MKZ|MKZ]] sedan, [[Lincoln MKX|MKX]] and [[Lincoln Nautilus|Nautilus]] crossovers and [[Lincoln Aviator|Aviator]] SUV.

In 2014, McConaughey received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]; it is located on 6931 Hollywood Boulevard.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 25, 2019|title=Matthew McConaughey|url=https://walkoffame.com/matthew-mcconaughey/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929142731/http://www.walkoffame.com/matthew-mcconaughey|archive-date=September 29, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref> Also in the same year, he shared star billing with [[Woody Harrelson]] in [[HBO]]'s crime drama anthology series ''[[True Detective]].''<ref>{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=HBO Picks Up Matthew-Woody Series 'True Detective' With Eight-Episode Order |url=https://deadline.com/2012/04/hbo-picks-up-matthew-mcconaughey-woody-harrelson-series-true-detective-264567/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=June 26, 2012 |date=April 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628041323/http://www.deadline.com/2012/04/hbo-picks-up-matthew-mcconaughey-woody-harrelson-series-true-detective/ |archive-date=June 28, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> For his role as [[Rust Cohle]], he won the [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Matthew McConaughey Wins Critics Choice Awards 2014 Best Actor |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8LMxdNO6hU |via=YouTube |access-date=March 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710231835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8LMxdNO6hU |archive-date=July 10, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]], which he lost to [[Bryan Cranston]] and the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film]].<ref name="TrueDetectiveShutOut">{{cite news |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/tv-zone-1.811968/emmys-why-did-true-detective-matthew-mcconaughey-get-shut-out-1.9152024 |title=Emmys: Why did 'True Detective,' Matthew McConaughey get shut out? |access-date=August 27, 2014 |work=[[Newsday]]|author=Verne Gay |date=August 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829034700/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/tv-zone-1.811968/emmys-why-did-true-detective-matthew-mcconaughey-get-shut-out-1.9152024 |archive-date=August 29, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvline.com/2014/12/11/golden-globe-nominations-2015-globes-awards-nominees/ |title=Golden Globes: ''Fargo'', ''True Detective'' Lead Nominations; ''Jane the Virgin'', ''Transparent'' Score Multiple Nods |publisher=TVLine |first=Matt Webb |last=Mitovich |date=December 11, 2014 |access-date=December 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213002132/http://tvline.com/2014/12/11/golden-globe-nominations-2015-globes-awards-nominees/ |archive-date=December 13, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> With his first Oscar win and the critical acclaim received for ''True Detective'', "McConaughey seems to be tapping into something essential, remaining himself while stretching, getting older while staying the same age." Critic Rachel Syme dubbed his recognition and performances while taking on more complex, dramatic roles as "The McConaissance".<ref name="syme2014" />

The same year, McConaughey received critical acclaim for playing Cooper, a widowed father and astronaut in [[Christopher Nolan]]'s epic science fiction film ''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]'' (2014).<ref name="COLLIDER.com">{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/matthew-mcconaughey-christopher-nolan-interstellar/ |title=Matthew McConaughey Confirmed to Lead Christopher Nolan's INTERSTELLAR |first=Matt |last=Goldberg |date=April 3, 2013 |publisher=collider.com |access-date=April 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405180333/http://collider.com/matthew-mcconaughey-christopher-nolan-interstellar/ |archive-date=April 5, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2015–present day: Career fluctuations ===

After finishing [[Gus Van Sant]]'s 2015 film ''[[The Sea of Trees]]'' with [[Ken Watanabe]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Kit |first=Boris |title=Matthew McConaughey to Star in Gus Van Sant's 'Sea of Trees' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matthew-mcconaughey-star-gus-van-677201 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 4, 2014 |publisher=TheHollywoodReporter.com |access-date=March 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310182620/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matthew-mcconaughey-star-gus-van-677201 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> in 2016, McConaughey starred in two films, ''[[Free State of Jones (film)|Free State of Jones]]'' and ''[[Gold (2016 film)|Gold]]'', and voiced leading characters in two animated films, ''[[Kubo and the Two Strings]]'' and ''[[Sing (2016 American film)|Sing]]''. In 2016, McConaughey was hired as creative director and celebrity spokesman for [[Wild Turkey (bourbon)|Wild Turkey's]] latest campaign, to bring in more women and more international customers.<ref name="NBCWildTurkey">{{cite news |last1=McMahan |first1=Dana |title=In Nod to Female Bourbon Fans, Wild Turkey Hires Matthew McConaughey |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/nod-female-bourbon-fans-wild-turkey-hires-matthew-mcconaughey-n623736 |access-date=August 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808130503/http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/nod-female-bourbon-fans-wild-turkey-hires-matthew-mcconaughey-n623736 |archive-date=August 8, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

McConaughey starred as [[Randall Flagg|Walter Padick]] in the 2017 [[Stephen King]] adaptation ''[[The Dark Tower (2017 film)|The Dark Tower]]'', which received negative reactions from most critics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/dark-tower-franchise-future-tv-movies/ |title=The Dark Tower: Where Can The Franchise Go From Here? |last=Fuller |first=Becky |website=[[Screen Rant]] |date=August 14, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815135853/http://screenrant.com/dark-tower-franchise-future-tv-movies/ |archive-date=August 15, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dark-tower-idris-elba-is-good-movie-1026991 |title=Idris Elba Is Too Good for 'The Dark Tower' |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |last=Spiegel |first=Josh |date=August 5, 2017 |access-date=August 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827220654/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dark-tower-idris-elba-is-good-movie-1026991 |archive-date=August 27, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/08/04/why-idris-elba-makes-the-dark-tower-a-must-see-in-theaters/ |title=Why Idris Elba Makes 'The Dark Tower' A Must-See In Theaters |work=[[Forbes]] |last=Mendelson |first=Scott |date=August 4, 2017 |access-date=August 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813113240/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/08/04/why-idris-elba-makes-the-dark-tower-a-must-see-in-theaters/ |archive-date=August 13, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/the-dark-tower-review-stephen-king-idris-elba-matthew-mcconaughey-video-1202142694/ |title='The Dark Tower' Review: Stephen King Fans Can Be Thankful Idris Elba Is Here To Save The World – And The Movie |last=Hammond |first=Pete |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=August 4, 2017 |access-date=August 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827210917/http://deadline.com/2017/08/the-dark-tower-review-stephen-king-idris-elba-matthew-mcconaughey-video-1202142694/ |archive-date=August 27, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, he starred in the true life gangster drama ''[[White Boy Rick]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/matthew-mcconaughey-white-boy-rick-drama-1201922232/ |title=Matthew McConaughey in Talks to Star in 'White Boy Rick' |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |first=Dave |last=McNary |date=November 18, 2016 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313130239/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/matthew-mcconaughey-white-boy-rick-drama-1201922232/ |archive-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> which gained mixed reviews. In 2019, he headlined the erotic thriller ''[[Serenity (2019 film)|Serenity]]'', that also starred [[Diane Lane]] and [[Anne Hathaway]]. The film was panned by both critics and audiences after its release on January 25.<ref name=THRroundup>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/serenity-review-roundup-what-critics-are-saying-1178912 |title='Serenity': What the Critics Are Saying |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first=Lexy |last=Perez |date=January 24, 2019 |access-date=January 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125130618/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/serenity-review-roundup-what-critics-are-saying-1178912 |archive-date=January 25, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> McConaughey next had the starring role in [[Harmony Korine]]'s ''[[The Beach Bum]]'', a comedy also featuring [[Zac Efron]] and [[Jonah Hill]]. The film was released on March 29, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/global/berlinale-matthew-mcconaughey-harmony-korines-the-beach-bum-1201980016/ |title=Matthew McConaughey to Star in Harmony Korine's 'The Beach Bum' |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |first=Leo |last=Barraclough |date=February 7, 2017 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730203229/https://variety.com/2017/film/global/berlinale-matthew-mcconaughey-harmony-korines-the-beach-bum-1201980016/ |archive-date=July 30, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tribute.ca/movies/the-beach-bum/134610/ |title=The Beach Bum synopsis and movie info |website=Tribute.ca |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210100108/https://www.tribute.ca/movies/the-beach-bum/134610/ |archive-date=February 10, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In late 2019 McConaughey appeared in the [[Guy Ritchie]] film ''[[The Gentlemen (2019 film)|The Gentlemen]],'' playing fictional cannabis baron Mickey Pearson.

In 2020 McConaughey published a memoir, ''[[Greenlights (book)|Greenlights]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=October 14, 2020|title=Matthew McConaughey Wrote the Book on Matthew McConaughey|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/books/matthew-mcconaughey-memoir-greenlights.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014152551/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/books/matthew-mcconaughey-memoir-greenlights.html |archive-date=October 14, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The New York Times}}</ref> On February 6, 2023, it was announced that he voiced an animated version of [[Elvis Presley]] on the [[Netflix]] animated series ''[[Agent Elvis]]'', released on March 17, 2023.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Romano|first=Nick|title=Matthew McConaughey. As Elvis. As a secret agent. That's the show.|url=https://ew.com/tv/matthew-mcconaughey-agent-elvis/|date=February 6, 2023|access-date=February 6, 2023|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207015949/https://ew.com/tv/matthew-mcconaughey-agent-elvis/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the announced departure on May 8, 2023, of [[Kevin Costner]] from the ''[[Yellowstone (American TV series)|Yellowstone]]'' series at the end of Part 2 of Season 5, the original series is to end and be followed by a series related to ''Yellowstone'' and featuring McConaughey in a new title role.<ref>"Kevin Costner Is Leaving Yellowstone After Season Five". By Josh Rosenberg. Esquire magazine. May 8, 2023. [https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a43784090/kevin-costner-exit-yellowstone-season-5/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505200332/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a43784090/kevin-costner-exit-yellowstone-season-5/|date=May 5, 2023}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[File:McConaugheyAlves2010-Crop.jpg|thumb|upright|McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves, in 2010]]
McConaughey met [[Camila Alves]] in 2006. He and Alves became engaged on December 25, 2011, and were married in a private Catholic ceremony<ref name=methodism>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-faith-of-matthew-mcconaughey-115649/ Christian Post: "The Faith of Matthew McConaughey" By Jim Denison] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120233639/https://www.christianpost.com/news/the-faith-of-matthew-mcconaughey-115649/ |date=November 20, 2019 }} March 5, 2014</ref> on June 9, 2012, in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] where they reside.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/celebrity/matthew-mcconaughey-wedding-in-texas-to-camila-alves/ |title=Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves Wedding |first=Elizabeth |last=Leonard |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=June 9, 2012 |access-date=June 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226031503/http://people.com/celebrity/matthew-mcconaughey-wedding-in-texas-to-camila-alves/ |archive-date=December 26, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves Getting Married in Top-Secret Texas Wedding – This Weekend! |publisher=[[E!]] |date=June 8, 2012 |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/Matthew_McConaughey_and_Camila_Alves_Getting_Married_in_Top-Secret_Texas_WeddingmdashThis_Weekend/322058 |first1=Melanie |last1=Bromley |first2=Marc |last2=Malkin |access-date=December 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613180834/http://www.eonline.com/news/Matthew_McConaughey_and_Camila_Alves_Getting_Married_in_Top-Secret_Texas_WeddingmdashThis_Weekend/322058 |archive-date=June 13, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Burzynski|first=Andrea|date=June 10, 2012|title=Matthew McConaughey weds Camila Alves in Texas|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-matthewmcconaughey-idUSBRE8590C320120610|access-date=August 25, 2021|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825110820/https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-matthewmcconaughey-idUSBRE8590C320120610|url-status=live}}</ref> Together, they have three children.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/parents/matthew-mcconau-4/ |title=Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves welcome son Levi |date=July 8, 2008 |work=People |access-date=February 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224115824/https://people.com/parents/matthew-mcconau-4/ |archive-date=February 24, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/parents/matthew-mcconaughey-camila-alves-welcome-daughter-vida/ |title=Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves Welcome Daughter Vida |work=People |first=Sarah |last=Michaud |date=January 3, 2010 |access-date=February 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224173409/https://people.com/parents/matthew-mcconaughey-camila-alves-welcome-daughter-vida/ |archive-date=February 24, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/parents/matthew-mcconaughey-welcomes-son-livingston/ |title=Matthew and Camila McConaughey Welcome Son Livingston |work=People |date=December 28, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224115804/https://people.com/parents/matthew-mcconaughey-welcomes-son-livingston/ |archive-date=February 24, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A Christian, McConaughey often speaks publicly about his faith.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Huckabee |first=Tyler |date=November 1, 2020 |title=The Spiritual Renaissance of Matthew McConaughey |url=https://relevantmagazine.com/magazine/the-spiritual-renaissance-of-matthew-mcconaughey/ |access-date=June 7, 2022 |website=Relevant |language=en-US |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607195212/https://relevantmagazine.com/magazine/the-spiritual-renaissance-of-matthew-mcconaughey/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Michael |date=October 26, 2020 |title=Matthew McConaughey rips Hollywood's 'illiberal Left,' accuses industry of being anti-Christian |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/matthew-mcconaughey-rips-hollywoods-illiberal-left-accuses-industry-of-being-anti-christian |access-date=June 7, 2022 |website=[[Washington Examiner]] |language=en |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607203957/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/matthew-mcconaughey-rips-hollywoods-illiberal-left-accuses-industry-of-being-anti-christian |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Julius |date=October 26, 2020 |title=Matthew McConaughey speaks about his faith in Hollywood on podcast |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/matthew-mcconaughey-slams-cancel-culture-christian-hollywood-defunding-police |access-date=June 7, 2022 |publisher=Fox News |language=en-US |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607203552/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/matthew-mcconaughey-slams-cancel-culture-christian-hollywood-defunding-police |url-status=live }}</ref> He attends a non-denominational church.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Is Hollywood Getting Saved? Matthew McConaughey, Gwen Stefani, & More Reveal Relationships With God |format=video|url=http://www.breathecast.com/articles/hollywood-getting-saved-2014-matthew-mcconaughey-gwen-stefani-more-reveal-21538/ |website=BREATHEcast |date=November 6, 2014 |access-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013041044/http://www.breathecast.com/articles/hollywood-getting-saved-2014-matthew-mcconaughey-gwen-stefani-more-reveal-21538 |archive-date=October 13, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> He has stated that he has received private personal criticism and judgment for his beliefs from some members of [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]]:<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> <blockquote>I have had{{snd}}and I won't throw any people under the bus{{snd}}but I have had moments where I was on stage receiving an award in front of my peers in Hollywood, and there were people in the crowd that I have prayed with before dinners many times, and when I thanked God, I saw some of those people go to clap, but then notice that, "bad thing on my resume" and then sit back on their hands.</blockquote>In 2019, he became a minority owner of [[Austin FC]], a team in [[Major League Soccer]] which began play in [[2021 Major League Soccer season|2021]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Boehm|first=Charles|title=Matthew McConaughey headlines new partners joining Austin FC ownership|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/matthew-mcconaughey-headlines-new-partners-joining-austin-fc-ownership|website=Major League Soccer|date=August 23, 2019|access-date=June 8, 2022|archive-date=June 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608030633/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/matthew-mcconaughey-headlines-new-partners-joining-austin-fc-ownership|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=August 23, 2019|title=Alright, alright! McConaughey an Austin FC owner|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3926791/alright-alright!-mcconaughey-an-austin-owner|url-status=live|access-date=August 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824050240/https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3926791/alright-alright!-mcconaughey-an-austin-owner|archive-date=August 24, 2019}}</ref>

McConaughey has been a longtime fan of the [[Washington Commanders]] football team.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stackpole|first=Kyle|title='I Like Where We're Heading': Matthew McConaughey Excited About New-Look Redskins|url=https://www.commanders.com/news/matthew-mcconaughey-excited-new-era-redskins-football|website=Commanders|date=May 1, 2020|access-date=May 8, 2022|archive-date=May 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525055656/https://www.commanders.com/news/matthew-mcconaughey-excited-new-era-redskins-football|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=How did Matthew McConaughey become a Redskins fan in Cowboys country?|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/redskins/how-did-matthew-mcconaughey-become-redskins-fan-cowboys-country-he-explains|work=NBC Sports|date=August 28, 2019|access-date=June 8, 2022|archive-date=June 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607200223/https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/redskins/how-did-matthew-mcconaughey-become-redskins-fan-cowboys-country-he-explains|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023, McConaughey stated that he and longtime friend and ''True Detective'' co-star/co-executive producer [[Woody Harrelson]] could potentially be brothers. His mother claimed to have been intimate with Harrelson's father, [[Charles Harrelson]], around the time of McConaughey's conception.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ronald |first=Issy |date=April 13, 2023 |title=Matthew McConaughey says he and Woody Harrelson might be brothers |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/13/entertainment/matthew-mcconaughey-woody-harrelson-intl-scli/index.html |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=May 3, 2023 |title=Woody Harrelson confirms he and Matthew McConaughey are brothers, says rumours 'very much true' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/woody-harrelson-confirms-he-and-matthew-mcconaughey-are-brothers-says-rumours-very-much-true/3JOH5VUZP5HYBD6QFDVN2D3YJI/?fs=e&s=cl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503155513/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/woody-harrelson-confirms-he-and-matthew-mcconaughey-are-brothers-says-rumours-very-much-true/3JOH5VUZP5HYBD6QFDVN2D3YJI/?fs=e&s=cl |archive-date=May 3, 2023 |access-date=May 3, 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald}}</ref>

In September 2023, [[Madame Tussauds New York]] unveiled a new wax figure of Matthew McConaughey, inspired by his 2021 appearance on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon|The Tonight Show]]''. The event, featured during McConaughey's visit to ''[[The View (talk show)|The View]]'', to promote his children's book, ''Just Because''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/matthew-mcconaughey-sees-wax-figure-for-first-time-the-view-7968672|title=Matthew McConaughey Sees Wax Figure for First Time on The View|date=September 12, 2023|access-date=February 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912000000/https://people.com/matthew-mcconaughey-sees-wax-figure-for-first-time-the-view-7968672|archive-date=September 12, 2023}}</ref>

==Politics==
[[File:P20220607ES-0434 (52258737219).jpg|thumb|upright|McConaughey and his wife Camila conversing with President [[Joe Biden]] at the White House on June 7, 2022]]
[[File:Matthew McConaughey speaking at the White House June 2022.png|thumb|upright|McConaughey speaking at the White House in the aftermath of the [[Robb Elementary School shooting|Uvalde school shooting]]]]
In a November 2020 appearance on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'', McConaughey denied he was interested in running for governor.<ref name="DMN speculation">{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Elizabeth |title=Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey walks back speculation of a potential run for Texas governor |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/11/19/oscar-winner-matthew-mcconaughey-walks-back-speculation-of-a-potential-run-for-texas-governor/ |access-date=June 8, 2022 |publisher=The Dallas Morning News |date=November 19, 2020 |archive-date=June 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608170810/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/11/19/oscar-winner-matthew-mcconaughey-walks-back-speculation-of-a-potential-run-for-texas-governor/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Texas Tribune]]'' reported on McConaughey's lack of involvement in politics, saying that he had not voted in a primary race since "at least" 2012 and had never donated to a political campaign at the state or federal level up through 2021.<ref name="background politics">{{cite news |last1=Svitek |first1=Patrick |title=Matthew McConaughey is flirting with a run for governor. But his politics remain a mystery. |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor-political-past/285-4381f292-b1c4-472f-9300-93b5f75d028c |access-date=June 8, 2022 |publisher=Texas Tribune |date=March 20, 2021 |archive-date=June 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608011957/https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor-political-past/285-4381f292-b1c4-472f-9300-93b5f75d028c |url-status=live }}</ref> He had voted in the [[2018 Texas elections]] and the [[2020 United States elections]].<ref name="background politics" />

In March 2021, McConaughey confirmed that he was considering running in the [[2022 Texas gubernatorial election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/12/matthew-mcconaughey-considering-run-texas-governor-475507|title=Matthew McConaughey ramps up speculation about run for Texas governor|first=Quint|last=Forgey|website=Politico|date=March 12, 2021|access-date=March 12, 2021|archive-date=March 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312164701/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/12/matthew-mcconaughey-considering-run-texas-governor-475507|url-status=live}}</ref> In an October 2021 [[Twitter Spaces]] interview with [[NPR]], McConaughey was asked if he was going to run for [[governor of Texas]]. He replied, "I am not – until I am."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/08/1044350811/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor-greenlights-politics-twitter|title=Governor run or no, Matthew McConaughey is full of campaign slogans|first=Emma|last=Bowman|publisher=NPR|date=October 8, 2021|access-date=May 11, 2023|archive-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411120917/https://www.npr.org/2021/10/08/1044350811/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor-greenlights-politics-twitter|url-status=live}}</ref> When asked questions about political issues, such as voting rights and abortion, McConaughey opted to remain "purposely vague", and he did not disclose his political party.<ref name="political views">{{cite news |last1=Egan |first1=John |title=Matthew McConaughey elects to be purposely vague about political views |url=https://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/10-08-21-matthew-mcconaughey-elects-to-be-purposely-vague-about-political-views/ |access-date=June 8, 2022 |publisher=Culture Map Austin |date=October 8, 2021 |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628114517/https://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/10-08-21-matthew-mcconaughey-elects-to-be-purposely-vague-about-political-views/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="political party">{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Jada |title=Matthew McConaughey 'seriously considering' run for Texas governor |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/mar/11/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor |access-date=June 8, 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=March 11, 2021 |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607212230/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/mar/11/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor |url-status=live }}</ref> Just over two weeks before the Texas primary candidate filing deadline, McConaughey released a video on his official Twitter profile stating that he would not be competing for the office.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Svitek|first=Patrick|date=November 29, 2021|title=Matthew McConaughey says he won't run for Texas governor|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/28/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor-2022/|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=The Texas Tribune|archive-date=November 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129004125/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/28/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor-2022/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey rules out a bid for Texas governor|date=November 29, 2021|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-29/actor-matthew-mcconaughey-rules-out-bid-for-texas-governor/13653990|publisher=ABC News|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129063221/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-29/actor-matthew-mcconaughey-rules-out-bid-for-texas-governor/13653990|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{external media|width=235px| float = right| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?520803-1/uvalde-native-matthew-mcconaughey-joins-calls-gun-laws White House daily briefing with McConaughey and Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, June 7, 2022], [[C-SPAN]]}}
In June 2022, McConaughey joined the White House press briefing and advocated for "commonsense gun laws" during a 20-minute speech, in which he spoke about the [[Robb Elementary School shooting|Uvalde school shooting]], which occurred in his hometown of Uvalde.<ref name="gun laws - CNN">{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Kate |title=Matthew McConaughey tells the story of those killed in Uvalde in emotional plea for action on guns |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/07/politics/matthew-mcconaughey-white-house/index.html |access-date=June 7, 2022 |publisher=CNN |date=June 7, 2022 |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607183139/https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/07/politics/matthew-mcconaughey-white-house/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He said, "We need responsible gun ownership. We need background checks. We need to raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15 rifle to 21. We need a waiting period for those rifles. We need red flag laws and consequences for those who abuse them."<ref name="gun laws">{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Lydia |title=Outraged Matthew McConaughey Begs For Commonsense Gun Laws At White House |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/matthew-mcconaughey-white-house-uvalde-guns_n_629f9b48e4b0b1100a69bd57 |access-date=June 7, 2022 |website=HuffPost |date=June 7, 2022 |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607210045/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/matthew-mcconaughey-white-house-uvalde-guns_n_629f9b48e4b0b1100a69bd57 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[CNN]] described the speech as "impassioned and at-times emotional".<ref name="gun laws - CNN" />

In July 2024, McConaughey spoke at the annual [[National Governors Association]] meeting. He reiterated his interest in running for political office and said he has been "on a learning tour."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Schoenbaum |first1=Hannah |last2=Gruver |first2=Mead |date=July 12, 2024 |title=Actor Matthew McConaughey tells governors he is still mulling future run for political office |url=https://apnews.com/article/matthew-mcconaughey-actor-politics-governors-campaign-14cc83beb00caa3a337b799ab16b6cfb |access-date=July 12, 2024 |work=AP News}}</ref>

== Philanthropy ==
McConaughey started the "just keep livin foundation", which is "dedicated to helping teenage kids lead active lives and make healthy choices to become great men and women".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.matthewmcconaughey.com/ |title=j.k. livin |publisher=Matthew McConaughey |access-date=August 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216230033/http://www.matthewmcconaughey.com/ |archive-date=February 16, 2011 }}</ref> On February 25, 2016, McConaughey received the Creative Conscience award from [[unite4:humanity]] for his work with his foundation.<ref name="unite4humanity-variety-matthew-mcconaughey-morgan-freeman-olivia-wilde">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/scene/news/unite4humanity-variety-matthew-mcconaughey-morgan-freeman-olivia-wilde-1201715937/ |title=Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman, Others Honored at Variety's Unite4:Humanity Benefit |last=Saval |first=Malina |date=February 26, 2016 |website=Variety |access-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910164711/https://variety.com/2016/scene/news/unite4humanity-variety-matthew-mcconaughey-morgan-freeman-olivia-wilde-1201715937/ |archive-date=September 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, McConaughey officially became a professor of practice for the Department of Radio-Television-Film at the Moody College of Communication at his ''alma mater'', UT-Austin; he had served as a visiting instructor since 2015.<ref>[https://rtf.utexas.edu/faculty/matthew-mcconaughey Faculty: Matthew McConaughey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829075508/https://rtf.utexas.edu/faculty/matthew-mcconaughey |date=August 29, 2019 }} - website of UT-Austin</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/29/us/matthew-mcconaughey-ut-professor.html|title=Matthew McConaughey Joins the University of Texas as a Professor|first=Laura M.|last=Holson|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 29, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006050335/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/29/us/matthew-mcconaughey-ut-professor.html|archive-date=October 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The first two sessions were about the filming of the movie ''[[Free State of Jones (film)|Free State of Jones]]''.<ref name="ReturntoAlmaMater">{{cite web |access-date=July 1, 2016 |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/matthew-mcconaughey-to-teach-film-at-university-of-texas-w211852 |title=Matthew McConaughey will return to his ''alma mater'' to teach behind the scenes course |date=July 1, 2016 |last=French |first=Megan |website=[[Us Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701215817/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/matthew-mcconaughey-to-teach-film-at-university-of-texas-w211852 |archive-date=July 1, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Filmography and accolades ==
{{Main|Matthew McConaughey filmography|List of awards and nominations received by Matthew McConaughey}}
{{Clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|d=Q188955|c=Category:Matthew McConaughey|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{AllMovie name|196967}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes person|matthew_mcconaughey}}
* [https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=matthewmcconaughey.htm Matthew McConaughey] on [[Box Office Mojo]]
* {{C-SPAN|134014}}

{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Matthew McConaughey|Awards for Matthew McConaughey]]
|list  =
{{Academy Award Best Actor}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor}}
{{Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Actor}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor}}
{{Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Actor Motion Picture Drama}}
{{Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actor}}
{{IndependentSpiritBestMaleLead}}
{{Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{Satellite Award Best Actor Motion Picture}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Actor}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward MaleLeadMotionPicture 2001–2020}}
{{TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama}}
}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcconaughey, Matthew}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Methodists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Methodists]]
[[Category:American Christians]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Austin FC owners]]
[[Category:Best Actor Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (film) winners]]
[[Category:Film producers from Texas]]
[[Category:Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead winners]]
[[Category:Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Longview High School alumni]]
[[Category:Male actors from Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:Method actors]]
[[Category:Methodists from Texas]]
[[Category:Moody College of Communication alumni]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Longview, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Uvalde, Texas]]
[[Category:Television producers from Texas]]
[[Category:University of Texas at Austin alumni]]
[[Category:University of Texas at Austin faculty]]