- Is in negotiations to star in TISHOMINGO BLUES, an adaptation of the Elmore Leonard best seller that will mark the feature directorial debut of actor Don Cheadle -- The independently financed project, budgeted at $15 million, will go into production Sept. 2. (July 8, 2003)
- McConaughey has found true love with a waitress ten years his junior -- The actor chose Michelle Smith to accompany to him to last month's Academy Awards and the pair have been dating since before Christmas. (April 16, 2003)
- McConaughey is in final negotiations to star in and executive produce a big-screen adaptation of Clive Cussler's 1992 novel Sahara -- McConaughey will executive produce the project with Gus Gustawes, his producing partner in their j.k. livin prods. (April 15, 2003)
- McConaughey will star in and produce romantic comedy DEAR DELIAH for Paramount Pictures -- The project centers on America's most widely read female advice columnist, Deliah, who has a secret: she's a he (McConaughey). (April 10, 2003)
- McConaughey reveals in an interview that his new house in Tinseltown eccentricity is alive and well - He said, "When I first moved in there I had a tent and I put it up on the floor of the upstairs bedroom with my sleeping bag and my dog. That's when I first saw Madame Blue. The first night I'm hearing noises, I'm hearing bass sounds, wood moving and coyotes, but then I hear this sound like a dime dropping from 10 feet off the ground onto a glass table." (February 20, 2003)
- Did the summation scene at the end in one take in A TIME TO KILL (1996). The tears were unscripted.
- Originally cast in Kiefer Sutherland's role of Billy Ray Cobb in A TIME TO KILL, but after reading the script, he decided that he would prefer the role of Jake Brigance. He went to director Joel Schumacher, who granted him a private screen test.
- Until five months, Kay McConaughey, his mother, didn't know that she was pregnant and thought it was a tumor!
- Paid $5 million to be Jennifer Lopez's groom in THE WEDDING PLANNER (2001).
- Before McConaughey, Brendan Fraser, who turned down his $10 paycheck to switch role as Elliot Richards in BEDAZZLED (2000), was originally selected to play in The Wedding Planner.
- Sometimes Credited As: M. McConaughey
- Lived briefly in Australia following high school and adopted an Australian accent for awhile after returning to the USA.
- Arrested in Oct 1999 in Austin, Texas for resisting transportation after first being under suspicion for marijuana possession.
- Police responded to a disturbance call at Matthew's home in Austin, Tx. . When they arrived, the music was blaring and he was playing bongo drums in the nude. He was with an unknown man and police attempted to arrest him after spotting illegal drugs. He resisted arrest.
- Member of Delta Tau Delta Internation Fraternity.
- Was the first choice to play the lead in TITANIC (1997).
- Travelled around Peru after filming A TIME TO KILL (1996)
- Voted Most Handsome in his Senior year of high school.
- Was paid $1,000,000 for AMISTAD (1997)
- His father played football for the Green Bay Packers during the 1967-68 season.
- Pet: A dog, Miss Hud
- Favorite sport: Golf
- Favorite Fast food: Sonic burgers
- Favorite book: The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino
- Appeared in music videos for Trisha Yearwood's Walkaway Joe and John Mellencamp's Key West Intermezzo?
- His first professional acting job was a beer commercial
- His brother Michael, who's known as Rooster, had a bit part in The Newton Boys
- His production company's name, JKL Productions, comes from Wooderson's life credo: Just Keep Livin'!
- Has a habit of naming things, his favorite coat, his cars, etc.
- Doesn't believe in cursing in front of women.
Quotes- "You have certain things that you think about when you set out to make a life for yourself. You have your family name, for one. And if you're an American, you've got your patriotism--that's the reason you have to do things right. Another one is 'under God,' whatever that means to you. Well, Texas is the only state where you've got a fourth thing slapping you on the ass, saying 'Do right.' It's a state of mind. You can't explain it."
- "There are certain nights you and your image just aren't in the same bed."
Awards- MTV Movie Award: Best Breakthrough Performance, A TIME TO KILL (1997)
- Lone Star Film & Television Awards: Rising Star Actor (1997)
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