Matthew McConaughey Says There’s ‘An Initiation Process’ In Hollywood
It's been three decades since Matthew McConaughey got his start on the big screen, coming a long way since playing 'Guy 2' in a 1993 episode of 'Unsolved Mysteries.'
In an interview with PEOPLE, McConaughey described the trials and tribulations of what he calls the "initiation process" in Hollywood, saying he's had his fair share of "ups and downs."
"My star meter has been higher, my star meter has been lower. I've won Oscars. I've been arrested playing the bongos naked," McConaughey, 54, stated.
The acclaimed actor's candid remarks shed light on the often overlooked challenges and complexities faced by newcomers in the entertainment industry.
"There's a lot of things you learn 10 years after being in Hollywood and you go, 'Well, why didn't they tell me that in year two?' Because there's an initiation process," he explained. "There just is. You can get tips, but you've got to figure out the BS, cut the wheat from the chaff along the way."
The Oscar winner, reflecting back on the past 30 years, wouldn't have changed his path if he could — admitting that he would not give his younger self any advice on maneuvering the industry.
"Oh, I wouldn't tell him," he began. "I'd let him figure it out the same way I did. Take feeder roads off the highway. Get confused, get frustrated, feel lost, and overcome it."
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The 'Wolf of Wall Street' star reveals the special moments in his career, including connecting with his children through his previous voice acting gigs, Like 'Sing' (2016) and 'Sing 2' (2021).
"Hey, that sounds like... " They had that moment where they look at the screen, audio, look at me sitting next to them, do the math and go, 'That's you,' " the Texas native said.
He shares three children with his wife of 12 years, Camila Alvez: Levi, 15, Livingston, 11, and daughter Vida, 14.
