Matthew McConaughey says birth of son Levi gave him the strength to take a break from Hollywood before roaring back to win an Oscar 

By Rachel Mcgrath For Dailymail.com

Published: 10:40 EST, 12 October 2016 | Updated: 11:23 EST, 12 October 2016

In 2008, Matthew McConaughey made a big decision to step back from Hollywood and refocus his career.

It was also the year that he welcomed his first child, son Levi, with then girlfriend and now wife Camila Alves.

The two things came together serendipitously, the actor, 46, tells the new issue of Esquire. 

'Man is never more masculine than after the birth of his first child,' the Texan said. 'I don't mean in a macho way. I mean in terms of giving a man strength.'

Leading man: Matthew McConaughey oozes rugged sex appeal as he poses for photos for the new issue of Esquire in which he talks about his decision to take a break from Hollywood

Leading man: Matthew McConaughey oozes rugged sex appeal as he poses for photos for the new issue of Esquire in which he talks about his decision to take a break from Hollywood

Realizing he'd been typecast as a rom-com leading man, McConaughey figured if he stopped working for a couple of years, he could come back and 're-brand' himself as a serious actor again.

The birth of his first child, he says, gave him the resolve to stick with that plan while also filling his days with the new experience of fatherhood. 

The support of Alves was also a significant factor, he tells Esquire.

'A good woman gives a man courage and confidence—the courage to have the confidence to go and do it, to not be worried as much or consider as much what the rest of the world thinks,' he explained.

Fatherhood gave him strength: For two years, the actor, 46, didn't accept any offers of work and focused instead on being a dad to son Levi, who was born in 2008

Fatherhood gave him strength: For two years, the actor, 46, didn't accept any offers of work and focused instead on being a dad to son Levi, who was born in 2008

Fatherhood: 'Man is never more masculine than after the birth of his first child,'McConaughey, pictured with son Levi in June, told Esquire. 'I mean in terms of giving a man strength'

Fatherhood: 'Man is never more masculine than after the birth of his first child,'McConaughey, pictured with son Levi in June, told Esquire. 'I mean in terms of giving a man strength'

Star power: McConaughey graces the cover of the November issue of Esquire in which he gives a wide-ranging interview about his career, growing up in Texas and finding love

Star power: McConaughey graces the cover of the November issue of Esquire in which he gives a wide-ranging interview about his career, growing up in Texas and finding love

The period between The Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past in 2009 and The Lincoln Lawyer in 2011 has clearly impacted McConaughey in lasting ways.

His return to Hollywood following that break turned out to be a triumph with roles in The Wolf Of Wall Street, HBO's True Detective and the low-budget Dallas Buyer's Club that won him his first Academy Award.

McConaughey and Alves welcomed a daughter Vida in 2010.

The couple wed in 2012, the same year Alves gave birth to their third child, son Livingston.

The actor will next be seen on the big screen in the dramatic thriller Gold, opening in select theaters on Christmas Day, and the fantasy film The Dark Tower opening in February.  

Family man: McConaughey also spoke about how the love and support of wife Camila Alves gave him the space he needed to 're-brand' himself in Hollywood. The couple are pictured with sons Levi and Livingston and daughter Vida at the actor's Walk Of Fame ceremony in 2014

Family man: McConaughey also spoke about how the love and support of wife Camila Alves gave him the space he needed to 're-brand' himself in Hollywood. The couple are pictured with sons Levi and Livingston and daughter Vida at the actor's Walk Of Fame ceremony in 2014

McConaughey made a triumphant comeback as a serious actor with roles in The Wolf Of Wall Street and True Detective before winning the Best Actor Oscar in 2014 for Dallas Buyers Club

McConaughey made a triumphant comeback as a serious actor with roles in The Wolf Of Wall Street and True Detective before winning the Best Actor Oscar in 2014 for Dallas Buyers Club

 

Comments (41)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now