Matthew McConaughey went from being a heartthrob with good looks to an actor of repute who has firmly held his position among Hollywood royalty for over 3 decades. The Texan star embraced his Southern roots and brought his own unique personality to his performances which got him recognized as an authentic artist. His crowning glory came in 2013 when McConaughey won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his moving and intense effort in Dallas Buyers Club.
Matthew McConaughey’s first breakthrough came when the star played a prominent role in Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age drama Dazed and Confused. While this film gave the actor a strong foothold in Hollywood, it was another high-profile project with a leading co-star that catapulted him into the big leagues and made him the superstar he is today.
Sandra Bullock Believed in Matthew McConaughey’s Talent
In 1996, Matthew McConaughey entered the Hollywood elite list with his performance as a fresh-faced lawyer in Joel Schumacher’s A Time to Kill, which was based on John Grisham’s book of the same name. Though he faced competition from bigger superstars for the role, Schumacher and Grisham were impressed enough with the Interstellar star to trust him with the role. McConaughey was also cast alongside established actors like Samuel L. Jackson and co-star Sandra Bullock, who were already bonafide stars. But Bullock was all praise for the True Detective actor and his work ethic.
“He’s a character actor in a leading-man’s body, and he’s going to change the face of what we demand from male actors. We’ll demand for them to push themselves more. He’s not just another beautiful face.”
Sandra Bullock also commended McConaughey’s integrity and discipline on set and hailed him as a future superstar while stating that it was her privilege to share screen space with him. Interestingly, the two actors also fell in love on the sets of the film and dated briefly before going their separate ways.
Matthew McConaughey Rose Above Stiff Competition To Do A Time To Kill
A Time to Kill cemented Matthew McConaughey’s place in Hollywood as a future superstar. The intense courtroom drama saw the actor play a young white lawyer who fights against all odds to defend a wronged black man from murder. But McConaughey was not the first choice for the leading role. He was originally cast by Joel Schumacher for a minor part as a Klansman in the film. When asked by the director about who would be best suited to play the lead character, McConaughey was unflinching in his answer. Recalling his conversation, the actor said,
“I think I should. I totally straight-faced him. He laughed and said, ‘That’s a great idea but it will never happen. I think you’d be great and it won’t happen.’ But I left feeling good that I’d at least gotten the Klan part.”
McConaughey’s courage and confidence would ultimately turn out to be the reason behind him landing the protagonist’s role. After Kevin Costner refused the film due to monetary issues and Woody Harrelson was rejected by John Grisham, the Magic Mike star was brought on board after he impressed both the director and the author with the belief he had in his own abilities.
Source: Cheatsheet
