Matthew McConaughey On His Most ‘Rebellious’ Hollywood Move

Matthew McConaughey recently shared insights into what he considers his most «rebellious» decision in Hollywood and what ultimately led him to return to his home state of Texas.

Best known for his iconic roles in romantic comedies like «The Wedding Planner,» «How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,» «Failure to Launch,» «Fool’s Gold,» and «Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,» McConaughey eventually felt the urge to break free from the genre.

Determined to broaden his horizons, Matthew McConaughey set his sights on pursuing more dramatic roles.

The Oscar-winning actor recently sat down with tennis star Nick Kyrgios for a preview of the athlete’s upcoming podcast episode of «Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios,» which airs today, Wednesday, November 20.

During their conversation, the Australian player asked McConaughey about his approach to staying authentic throughout his career.

«Look, man, the devil’s in the infinite yeses, not the nos,» McConaughey said, per PEOPLE Magazine. «No, it’s just as important, if not more important. Especially if you have some level of success and access. No becomes more important than yes.”

“I mean, we all look around and see we’ve overleveraged our life with yeses and go, ‘Geez, oh, man, I’m making C minuses and all that sh-t in my life because I said yes to too many things,'» he added. «I have many times in my life where I’m going through autopilot.»

As his career progressed, he found himself firmly established in the world of romantic comedies, a genre he refers to as his «lane.»

«That was my lane, and I liked that lane,» the actor said. «That lane paid well and it was working. But the lane was… I was so strong in that lane that anything outside of that lane, dramas and stuff that I wanted to do, were like, ‘No, no, no, no, no McConaughey.’ Hollywood said ‘No, no, no, no, you should stay there, stay there.’ «

However, he soon came to the realization that he no longer wanted to remain confined to that «lane» and was eager to explore different types of roles. When the opportunities he sought didn’t materialize, he made the bold decision to step away from acting entirely and relocate to his family’s ranch in Texas.

While at the ranch, he made a pact with his wife, Camila Alves McConaughey. “‘I’m not going back to work unless I get offered roles I want to do,'» he told Kyrigos.

During that time, he and his wife welcomed their first child, Levi, which gave McConaughey «purpose» after enduring two «wobbly» years.

«I was still like, ‘Man’s gotta work.’ Making chimes and working in the garden wasn’t cutting it,» he said. Despite the tempting opportunities, he stayed committed to his pact, even turning down an unnamed action-comedy role that came with a $14.5 million paycheck, something he calls the «most rebellious move» he made in Hollywood.

«I think that was the one that was probably what was seen as the most rebellious move in Hollywood by me, because it really sent the signal, ‘He ain’t f-cking bluffing,'» the actor said. «I think that’s what made Hollywood go, ‘You know what? He’s now a new novel idea. He’s a new bright idea.’ «

His determination eventually paid off, leading to a series of roles outside the romantic comedy genre. These included critically acclaimed films like «Dallas Buyers Club,» which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor.

It’s been 21 years since Matthew McConaughey captured hearts in «How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,» and now he’s revisiting his iconic role with a playful twist.

As part of the «Official Tequila Of» campaign for Pantalones Organic Tequila, McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves McConaughey, have reimagined the film’s iconic poster. The updated version, cleverly titled «How to Lose Your Pants in 10 Ways,» features Camila stunning in a yellow silk dress reminiscent of Andie Anderson’s signature look, while Matthew goes bold—appearing pants-free.

Along with the reimagined poster, Pantalones and Matthew McConaughey have unveiled ten specialty cocktails inspired by the film and its «ten ways» theme. The lineup includes creative concoctions like the Love Fern Margarita, Benny Boo Boo, You’re So Vain, Yellow Dress, and more.