Matthew McConaughey reveals how his Australian gap year shaped him

Matthew McConaughey reveals how his Australian gap year shaped him as a person after his pampered upbringing in Texas


Matthew McConaughey has revealed how an exchange trip in rural Australia in his late teens shaped him as a person and led to him winning an Oscar.

The American actor, 52, was stripped of all the ‘crutches’ he had growing up in Texas after moving to Warnervale, a small town on the central coast of NSW, in 1988.

He explained in his new memoir, Greenlights, how he had no friends in Australia and found himself working six jobs.

Candid: Matthew McConaughey (pictured on January 21) has revealed how his Australian gap year in 1988 shaped him as a person after his pampered upbringing in Texas

Matthew described his gap year as ‘tread[ing] water until I crossed the finish line’.

‘I begun to realise how valuable and enduring that year in Australia was for me, how I wouldn’t be the man I am today, unless I had taken that year,’ Matthew wrote.

‘How I wouldn’t have learnt the lessons if I would’ve come home early.’

He contrasted his tough experience in Australia with his charmed life back home in Texas, where everything seemed to come so easily to him.

For example, he was voted ‘most handsome’ in school, was a straight-A student and even dated the ‘best-looking girl at school’. 

Experience: The American actor, 52, was stripped of all the 'crutches' he had growing up in Texas after moving to Warnervale, a small town on the central coast of NSW

Experience: The American actor, 52, was stripped of all the ‘crutches’ he had growing up in Texas after moving to Warnervale, a small town on the central coast of NSW

It comes after Matthew ended months of speculation by announcing he was not running for governor of Texas, insisting his time and energy was better spent elsewhere.

The Oscar-winning actor posted a video to Twitter on Sunday evening saying he was honoured to be even considered.

‘As a simple kid born in the town of Uvalde, Texas, it never occurred to me that I would one day be considered for political leadership,’ he said.

Lessons learned: 'I begun to realise how valuable and enduring that year in Australia was for me, how I wouldn't be the man I am today, unless I had taken that year,' Matthew said

Lessons learned: ‘I begun to realise how valuable and enduring that year in Australia was for me, how I wouldn’t be the man I am today, unless I had taken that year,’ Matthew said

‘It’s a humbling and inspiring path to ponder. It is also a path that I am choosing not to take at this moment.’

McConaughey never stated whether he would run as a Democrat, Republican or independent, and instead described his politics as ‘aggressively centrist’.

Neither had he outlined any policy priorities, although he is know for his activism on the environment and young people.

Confirmed: It comes after Matthew ended months of speculation by announcing he was not running for governor of Texas, insisting his time and energy was better spent elsewhere

Confirmed: It comes after Matthew ended months of speculation by announcing he was not running for governor of Texas, insisting his time and energy was better spent elsewhere

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