Matthew McConaughey Talks Up Texas, a 'Very Progressive State'

By Nicki Gostin Posted Mar 17th 2011 10:40PM

Alright alright alright, the Internet is ripe for a free-wheeling discussion with strapping actor Matthew McConaughey, about nearly losing his 20s to law school and how he parlayed his first film ('Dazed and Confused') into a massive career, ranging from cheesy Disney movies with "that guy from 'Taxi'" to a slew of romantic comedies. McConaughey spoke with PopEater on the eve of the release of 'The Lincoln Lawyer,' which brings him back to his legal roots 16 years after becoming a star with 'A Time to Kill.' We also learned the Uvalde (here) native is extremely passionate about his beloved Texas.

"Texas is rooted in a real traditional code yet at the same time it's not stuck, it's a very progressive state," he said. "It's a real nice balance of that. There's a lot of honor and pride in it."

What are you doing right this second?
Sitting in the back seat of a Lincoln and driving to a screening of 'Lincoln Lawyer.'

So is that going to be your shtick now?
I'm just gonna drive around, roll the back down and say everything from the backseat of the car.

You became a big star in 'A Time To Kill,' and now here you are playing a lawyer again.
Sixteen years later. I didn't necessarily know that going in or plan it, but after making 'Lincoln Lawyer' and seeing it, it does have a little circular feel to it.

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Does it make you feel like where did the time go?
No, I know exactly what I was doing in all those years! It doesn't seem that long ago, but I've filled up that time doing a lot of other work.

You were going to study law in college.
That's where I was headed, a criminal defense lawyer, that's what I wanted to be. What's great now is I can do it for five months and then quit and then go do something else. The reason I changed my mind in college is because I looked up one day and I was 22 and I thought, whoa man, I graduate and then I need to go do another four years. I'll be 28 years old before I'm actually getting out and giving back to society and practicing my craft. I was like I don't want to miss my 20s just studying so thankfully I changed.

Things happened really quickly for you.
My first film, 'Dazed and Confused,' was during my senior year. Then I graduated and drove out to LA with a production assistant's job and then I got a meeting with someone off 'Dazed' and that got me an agent and my first audition in Hollywood was for 'Boys on the Side.' Then I did 'Angels in the Outfield' with that guy from 'Taxi.'

Danny DeVito?
No, the main guy.

Judd Hirsch? Tony Danza?
That's it.

I remember that film. It was a bit cheesy.
It was a Disney kids movie. The audition for that was I walked in and the producer says, 'Oh look at you. You look like an all American kid. Ever played baseball?' '12 years.' 'You've got the part.' And then Joel Schumacher gave me a really righteous chance to test for 'A Time To Kill,' and that was the game changer.

How are Texans different from the rest of us?
We sure love our state, don't we? When people say where are you from and you say Texas they know where it is, even internationally. There aren't many other states, minus New York and California, you can say that with. Texas is rooted in a real traditional code yet at the same time it's not stuck, it's a very progressive state. It's a real nice balance of that. There's a lot of honor and pride in it.

Do you have any belt buckles in the shape of Texas?
Oh, it's a great outline, isn't it? I've got one of those.

Ever wear bolos?
I love bolos. I wore them about 20 years ago.

Yeah, they'd be hard to wear now on the beach.
You could pull off a bolo on the beach, but you'd have to really commit. You'd have to come out with a different bolo every day.

You really are great in romantic comedies.
The challenge of those is to keep them buoyant. They are, by design, light, not lightweight but light. You have to keep them sailing on the surface. The challenge is you want to dig in and go deep, but that would sink one of those things. I think I was able to bring in a stronger male perspective while still keeping it buoyant. The thing is, you know the guy and the girl are going to get together at the end and you want to be entertained in seeing how. That's the trick of them, not anchoring them down so you don't sink them.

How old were you when you had your first kiss?
I'm not telling! No kissing and telling.

I'm not asking who!
If I said so she would read it and know.

Well, who's going to be the last girl you kiss?
I would hope that's the one I just left at home.

I was hoping you'd say that. What's the secret to your steak?
It's the dry rub that's my recipe. Sear it first and then slow cook after that. Cooking is one of the main things we do. One and a half hours to two hours a day. We eat out like once every two months because we cook. It's really great family time from 6 to 8. Glass of wine and we start mixing up sauces and trying new things. See what we can pull off and we swap, sometimes I'm the cook, sometimes Camila is the cook.

You know what I smell?
Good food.

No, a cookbook.
Yeah, we've got a whole bunch of things to fill up a cookbook right now.

I know a hungry interviewer who'd love to come over for dinner.
Well maybe we'll have you over for a good steak.

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Tags: Matthew McConaughey, Texas, The Lincoln Lawyer

Comments

(21)

Thursday 17 March

By georgettec28

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As long as they have a death penalty, Texas will never be Progressive. In fact, Texas lives in the dark ages on almost every topic imaginable including G.W. Bush.

By ofalaska

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I spent most of my life avoiding Texas and then found out my long-lost family has a big 'ol ranch there. Every time I've gone it's been great, and I love the people, the horses, the food (ain't no barbecue better!) and the attitude. Not bad for a small state. (We're two and a half times bigger in Alaska) What I really can't stand however is the smarmy arrogance of the liberal elitists who think by demeaning places like Texas it makes them better somehow. BOOOOLSHEET!

Friday 18 March

By brutony

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Actually, thats YOU who lives in the dark ages, who thinks life is la de dah and all the terrorists are our friends if we just hug them and give em a hand, blah blah blah!

By jaluty

Progressive my backside! Why would a progressive state need to rewrite history books, to represent only what they wish to accept? That is anything but progressive. Lying about history won't change it, nor will it change history. They need to learn to live with it and embrace their mistakes of the past, just like everyone else. After over 10 years in the state, I am more than qualified to say, TX is alot of things, but progressive isn't one of them!

By Msmich

Great for Friday night football, Tex-Mex, Walmart, big hair, cowboy boots and hats, BBQ, Bush...progressive..NO!

By E

I have lived in Texas all my life and one thing we are not is progressive.

By Harbo

I live in Texas and believe me, it's NOT progressive. Matthdew needs to pay us a visit and get the lay of the political landscape. It's absolutely Victorian. In many respects (a woman's right to choose, marriage equality,) we are still living in the Dark Ages. Our governor, "Gov. Goodhair" as he's known, hasn;t had a fresh idea in the last 20 years. Progressive? I don't think so.

By MrsV

You may think we aren't progressive...but if you are true Texan then you have to at least love Texas! If you don't like the politics then get involved to help make changes or move to a more "progressive" state!

By Pollas

I am proud to say as a Texan that Texas is NOT a progressive state. We are a right-to-work state, we don't tax our citizens and businesses to death, we believe in individual's rights as granted by US and Texas law, and we believe in punishing criminals. But I very much disagree that we live in the "Dark Ages". We're not a perfect state, but what state is? I'd much rather live In Texas than a 'progressive' state like California.

By larry

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Yeah but your budget deficit is just as bad a Californias so who's pocket did all that money go in..............

Pollas you must be in California and think everbody is as bad off as you. Texas has a budget SURPLUS, low taxes and thank God or whatever critters you crawl to people there and here in Alaska have the right to bear arms. Enjoy the gangs from the hood, bar you windows and live in fear. No thanks!

Sorry Pollas! It was for that Larry character under you!!!!

By Luis

Matthew probably still lives in Austin, TX. Austin is definitely very progressive. I used to live there while attending UT Austin. It is an awesome place to live. Lots of friendly people, lots of green spaces for walking your dog, hilly terrain in some areas, a liberal keep Austin weird mentality, and a small town feel in a relatively large city. How I miss Austin! I live in Houston now.

One thing I remember is that Travis county (in which Austin is located) was the only county in all of Texas to vote against the "marriage is between a man and a woman" law.

By bryan markland

You are sooooo right! The only palce to live in Texas is Austin. I love the rest of Texas too but Austin is the only place where diversity (reality) is accepted. The rest of Texas, the people are great but not worldly or open to diversity.

By MurkowskiRules

About 2/3's of Texas couldnt be less progressive... You have a few dems in San Antone, a few in Houston, and quite a few in Austin, & that doesnt add up to too many when all totalled !

By luckysays

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What is he smoking? I lived in Texas for over 20 years and I am glad to say I am not there anymore. I could not live with such a restrictive Govenor and the latest text book law basically re-writes history. It is far from progressive.

They revere GW Bush as some hero. The state is made up of mostly Republicans and their backward way of thinking. In my opion, he can have TEXAS.

By Jay Love

I have never lived in Texas, but have family there and have visted often. originally from the state of New Mexico which is right next door,(but worlds away) I can say while I love Texas just the way it is, I would not wish to live there full time. but thank god for Texas and the way they are, they have a lot of good going on and as for punishing criminals I can only wish the rest of the country was as tuff on crime as they are, we wouldn't be in the sad shape we are in if they were?

By Steve

I'm glad to be living in Texas and all of you Texas haters aren't worth the powder to blow you up. If you ain't living in Texas you're probably jealous and if you are and you whine about it then you're probably too poor or lazy to leave.

By stinkfistula

Only good thing about Texas is Kinky Friedman.

By rent30458

Nicki, is someone paying you to write? Get a dictionary -- there is no word "alright." It is spelled "all right."

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