Matthew McConaughey Wants His Son To ‘Fail More’ Amid Buzzing Hollywood Career

Matthew McConaughey has spilled some seasoned advice he gave his son.

The actor has shared some words of wisdom with his eldest child, Levi McConaughey, as he paves his way in Hollywood, seemingly following in his father’s footsteps. The younger star made his acting debut in “The Lost Bus” last year, starring alongside his father and grandmother.

Matthew McConaughey has been vocal about the joys of parenting and about supporting his children in whatever niche they’ve shown interest in.

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Matthew shared wise words with his son about making it in Hollywood. He explained to the 18-year-old that “rejection” is part of the journey and that as he builds an acting career, “You’ve got to be able to deal with rejection. After making his debut last year on “The Lost Bus,” Matthews hopes his son falls in love with the process as he goes on.

He explained that when an actor loves the job enough, the “no’s don’t matter,” adding that it “takes troubadours and rebels” to make it in a business as cutthroat as acting. The Hollywood icon shared that he has tried to make the acting hurdles clear to Levi while encouraging him always to take any chances presented to him. 

“It’s better to make a fool of yourself and find out than to leave an audition and go, ‘Oh, I had that moment, and I hesitated,’” Matthew told E! News before adding, “Make a fool of yourself. Fail more. Try and fail more. No one gives as much of a damn as you think they do.”

The Oscar Winner Says The Choice Is Up To Levi

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Even though Matthew has a pot of wisdom to impart to his eldest son, he clarified that there is no pressure on his end for Levi to follow in his footsteps.

He explained that he and his wife, Camila Alves McConaughey, are not pushing their children to chase a life in the industry. The pair share three kids: two sons, Levi and Livingston, and a daughter, Vida.

“I don’t know if it’s something he’s going to want to pursue as a career,” the actor said of his son Levi. “But as we’ve done what we’ve always done, Camila and I will do our best to open doors, and then after that it’s up to our kids to do what they do with it.” 

The “True Detective” alum noted that although there is no pressure from his end, acting may come naturally to Levi, given that he has spent ample time on film sets. According to the actor, his son enjoys working on crews and making short films at home.

Matthew McConaughey Says He’s Not ‘A Safety Net’ For Levi

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Last year, Matthew revealed a conversation he had with Levi while he was preparing to audition for his role in “The Lost Bus.” He explained that he made it clear to his son that he was there to help and guide him, but not to influence the outcome.

“I can help coach you, I can help teach you what I can, but once we show up on the day, I’m not there as a safety net,” the Hollywood star reportedly told his son. The “Interstellar” star said those words sank deep into Levi, such that when he showed up to set, he acted professionally and worked with the director.

Matthew and Camila do not want their kids sitting pretty with the nepobaby title hanging over their heads. They’ve reportedly warned their children never to look at their successes and feel entitled.

Matthew also went the extra mile to rid nepotism from his son’s audition process. As reported by Today, Levi’s reading for the role was sent to the casting director without his surname. Matthew decided to pull McConaughey off the tape they sent in to ensure the 18-year-old got the part purely based on his own merit.

The Actor Previously Gushed About The Joys Of Parenting

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Matthew, in a previous interview, addressed the topic of parenting, describing it as the most important thing a man can do. He noted that a man’s status changes from prince to king upon becoming a father.

The Oscar winner also stressed that the “greatest art” a man can create is being a “good father to a son or a daughter.” He also explained that raising children comes with its fair share of challenges, especially when a parent is determined to raise them right.

As shared by The Blast, Matthew stated that parents should strive to establish a balance between parenting and their marriage rather than sacrifice one for the other. He also highlighted an observation he’s made over the years as a father of three: “The best example you can give your kids is how you treat the mother.”

Matthew McConaughey’s Son Expressed Gratitude In Emotional Birthday Post

Three years ago, on Matthew’s 54th birthday, Levi made a heartfelt birthday post sharing throwback photos of them. He wished his dad a happy birthday and praised him for instilling values in him. It is evident that through the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, Matthew finds time to spend with his children exploring their interests.

“The man who always makes time for us no matter what, the man who’s always there for us no matter what, and the man who taught me to appreciate the journey and not just the destination,” Levi penned in the caption. The photo dump had snaps of the whole family on outings, at the beach, including one with Matthew and young Levi at a sports game.

Many fans penned their birthday wishes for the actor in the comments, gushing at the beautiful family pictures. Some commenters likened Matthew’s real-life nature to his character on “Interstellar,” noting that the actor has great love for his family.

Will Matthew McConaughey’s son take his advice?