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Matthew McConaughey, the rom-com king, nearly quit acting because he was tired of being typecast. Back in the early ‘00s, when he was riding high on romantic comedy success, that’s when it all started to get old for him. Not only did film office hits like Failure to Launch and The Wedding Planner cement his role as the archetypal leading man, but they also defined him. Whenever McConaughey sensed that the movie industry wanted him to zag, he would usually zig instead. There were two sides to his “rom-com years,” as he put it.
McConaughey thought his creativity was being restricted, even with the monetary success. The business didn’t appear to want to give him a chance, despite his desire to pursue more difficult jobs. He acknowledged, “I got out of my lane.”
Actor McConaughey took a two-year break from the business after realizing there was no way out. He thought of taking a whole new professional route during this period. There was discussion about leading, teaching, and even directing wildlife. “I was freaking out about what I was going to do for work,” he told me.
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