Matthew McConaughey’s escape to Texas: He wanted to be more than the “romcom guy”

Matthew McConaughey (55) has revealed how he got away from romantic comedies. The actor explained in a podcast that he no longer wanted to be seen as the “romcom guy.” After his success with romantic films, he had something bigger in mind in Hollywood.

The Oscar winner spoke to tennis professional Nick Kyrgios (29) on the “Good Trouble” podcast about how he learned to say no. The problem lies in constantly saying yes, not in saying no. “No is just as important, if not more important. Especially if you have a certain level of success and access. No becomes more important than yes.”

The actor does appreciate the time he spent in all the romantic comedies like “Wedding Planner” (2001), “How do I get rid of him – in 10 days?” (2003) and “A Treasure to Fall in Love with” (2008). But at some point he felt like he was on “autopilot,” he said.

He watched the romantic comedies. “And I was the romcom guy, that was my path, and I liked that path. It was well paid and it worked,” the Hollywood star continued. But he was so strongly connected to it that he was rejected for anything outside of this area. “So since I couldn’t do what I wanted to do, I stopped what I was doing.” He moved to a ranch in Texas and made a pact with his wife Camila Alves (41): “I won’t go to work anymore unless I’m offered roles that I want to do.”

Matthew McConaughey withdrew from the public eye for almost two years. During that time, he apparently turned down several offers, including one for $14.5 million to star in an action comedy, he revealed on the podcast. “I think it was the most rebellious move I’ve ever made in Hollywood because it really sent the message: He’s not bluffing,” he said. “And when you have someone who isn’t bluffing, there’s something attractive about that.”

After those “shaky” years, as McConaughey described the time of his retirement, his patience paid off and eventually landed him roles in drama projects including “Mud” (2012), “Interstellar” (2014) and the Film “Dallas Buyers Club” (2013), which won him an Oscar. “When these offers came, I was happy,” said the actor. “And I just kept going and working as hard as I could and I loved it and felt every bit of it.”