‘I’m becoming a better storyteller’: Matthew McConaughey says his father made him ‘act better’

Matthew McConaughey has admitted that his role as a father of three has allowed him to dig deep as an actor. The 54-year-old actor lives in Los Angeles with his wife Camila Alves McConaughey and children Levi (15), Vida (14) and Livingston (11). In an interview with People, the actor said his children have “made me a better actor.” Interacting with the children has improved his storytelling skills, as he often has to simplify complex roles for them. The perspective this brings has shaped his career and creativity as an artist.

As a father of three, Matthew McConaughey has expanded his artistry immensely

McConaughey gives credit to fatherhood, saying his children have helped him become a better artist and actor. Telling stories to his children has reportedly sharpened his storytelling skills, as they are constantly experiencing things for the first time and asking innocent questions.

Whenever he comes home from a big project like True Detective, he has to explain his work to his children in a way that makes sense and is age-appropriate. Using parables to explain complex issues has forced him to become a better storyteller.

“And this has taught me to be a better storyteller, telling my kids about a good guy, a bad guy and a monster, to tell them the parable of the story I was in,” McConaughey continues. The Interstellar star realized as his children were growing up that he had never worked on an age-appropriate project.

McConaughey notes that as a parent you pay a lot of attention to what your children see. It dawned on him that he had never worked on an animated film before. After seeing the idea and enjoying doing voice work, he became interested in exploring this new genre of filmmaking. The fact that he is a parent and wants to participate in projects that resonate with himself and his children has influenced this shift in perspective.

McConaughey would choose to reimagine his life

McConaughey eventually signed on to star in Sing, an animated film released in 2016. His co-stars in the film include Reese Witherspoon as Buster Moon the koala, along with Taron Egerton and Scarlett Johansson.

“They thought it was really cool,” he recalls of his three children. “I remember sitting at the premiere and they were listening and they said to me, ‘Hey, that sounds like…’ and they had that moment where they looked at the screen and the audio, and then looked at me as I sat next to them and did the math.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t tell him. Instead, I’d let him figure it out like I did,” says the star, known for his work with the Just Keep Living Foundation and the Greenlights Grant Initiative. “Take the highway access routes. Avoid getting confused, frustrated and lost, and get over it,” he continues.