Why Matthew McConaughey fled to the Peruvian jungle after becoming a star
Following the release of his memoir Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey has unveiled an array of personal anecdotes and reflections about his time in the entertainment industry, ranging from profoundly moving to outright astonishing. Among the most striking is a particular story detailing how he navigated the challenges of sudden fame as a young actor, offering an intimate glimpse into the unexpected realities of stardom.
McConaughey’s story is similar to that of many actors – there were years of nothing and struggling to find any work, and then suddenly, it all happened at once. His career sky-rocketed after his performance in A Time to Kill, directed by Joel Schumacher, a courtroom drama about a young lawyer who defends a Black man accused of murdering the two white men who raped his daughter, leading to a resurgence of the KKK. Prior to the success of the film, McConaughey spoke about his struggles in Hollywood and the seemingly endless stream of rejections that he was met with, unable to book a single role.
However, after the film’s release, the actor was suddenly presented with options and a list of job offers for new projects. Despite how welcome this change was, McConaughey found himself feeling overwhelmed by this sudden change and escalation to fame and chose to deal with it in his own unique way.
In an interview, McConaughey explained: “I don’t know about you, but for me, going back to A Time to Kill, after I first had a big success in a major studio picture and became famous, I remembered that the Thursday before that movie opened, there’s 100 scripts out there that I would’ve done, and 99 of them I could not book. Over that one weekend, 99 noes became 99 yeses. I was like, ‘What? Three days ago, I’d have done any of these! And now you’re asking me which one I want to do?’ It was a hell of a shocking thing. I chucked on a backpack and went to Peru for three weeks just so I could hear myself think. Have you had to go, ‘I would’ve done any of these roles, but now I’ve got to be discerning?’”
I’m sure many of us experience the urge to completely escape our everyday lives and detach from reality, and in McConaughey’s case, the Peruvian jungle was the perfect place for this. Hollywood can appear like a rather suffocating place—a fishbowl of celebrities and interpersonal connections that you cannot escape, and for a lot of people starting out in the industry, it can be a really jarring experience.
It seems as though McConaughey’s time in the jungle was enough to rejuvenate his spirit and help him get back on the horse, as he later went on to star in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Interstellar and Dallas Buyers Club, earning him the Academy Award for ‘Best Actor’ for his performance in the latter.
Sometimes all you need is a break in order for things to go back to be alright, alright, alright (no apologies).
