Matthew McConaughey’s son Levi, 17, talks nepo baby pressure and privilege

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Matthew McConaughey says his oldest son, Levi, showed an early interest in performing, even before McConaughey helped him get a role in his movie, The Lost Bus.

The 17-year-old acknowledged that his parents’ fame might have given him initial opportunities, but he emphasized that it’s up to him to succeed once he’s been given a chance, as he explained in a recent interview with People magazine.

‘That’s on me.’

The Academy Award-winning actor, 55, recently shared some thoughts on facing challenges. He explained that it’s important to confront feelings of both being deserving and feeling ashamed. He said if you can honestly address these feelings and persevere, the journey will be incredibly challenging, but ultimately rewarding.

Matthew, having become well-known himself, also offered Levi advice on how to handle public attention, sharing lessons he’d picked up over time.

Honestly, it’s tough navigating life and figuring out what’s genuine versus what’s just, well, not. But I’ve learned, as Matthew McConaughey says, you really develop a gut feeling over time – a kind of sixth sense – that helps you sort it all out.

It’s crucial for him to develop a strong sense of self and grow into the person he wants to be. Acting can definitely help with that – it’s a way for him to explore who he is – but it shouldn’t define him completely.

The actor known for his work in Zach Bryan’s videos always said he didn’t want his kids to become actors, but he changed his mind around the age of 40 after his son was born.

Matthew wondered aloud where McConaughey was getting the idea that he didn’t want his children to pursue a particular path.

You know, reflecting on my life – all the incredible people I’ve met through my work and travels, being on set, everything – it’s been such a fantastic journey. It really struck me how lucky I am. When I hear people express concerns about their kids entering this industry, I honestly don’t get it. I think it would be an amazing opportunity for them, a real privilege, and if they have the passion, it’s a wonderfully creative field to pursue.

Despite everything, the actor’s agent had to repeatedly ask Matthew McConaughey – about four times – to help him practice for his audition. McConaughey coached him as he recorded himself playing the part of Shaun, the son of his character’s bus driver, Kevin McKay.

Ryan Reynolds famously asked casting director Francine Maisler to remove Levi’s last name from the audition tape before sending it to director Paul Greengrass. Greengrass immediately approved, and was even more excited to learn that Levi was his son.

Oh my gosh, he told me about this *intense* scene with his on-screen dad! Apparently, they had to film a huge fight, and he said it was really challenging to pull off. He’s from LA, you know, and he called himself a ‘Zoomer’ – it was just so cool to hear him talk about it!

Thankfully, things are much better between us in real life. But being able to step away from everything and really enjoy acting was a big part of my personal growth – it was the first time I truly fell in love with it.

Matthew used his connections to have his 93-year-old mother, Kay, play his mother in the 129-minute survival drama. The film centers on his character’s rescue of 22 schoolchildren during the tragic 2018 Camp Fire.

Jamie Lee Curtis was a producer on “The Lost Bus,” a new series with America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, and Ashlie Atkinson. It will be available to stream on Apple TV+ starting October 3rd.

The movie based on Lizzie Johnson’s 2021 book, *Paradise*, about a town’s fight to survive a wildfire, has received positive reviews. Currently, it has an 87% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 55 critic reviews.

Matthew McConaughey worked with young actor Levi on the set of the new teen drama, *Way of the Warrior Kid*, directed by McG. The show, inspired by the Navy SEALs, will be available to stream on Apple TV+ starting December 25th.

The musician, known for his curly hair, started his career getting paid to provide catering on the sets of films by the Golden Globe-winning actor. More recently, he appeared in his first acting role last year, starring in a Lincoln car commercial designed for Father’s Day.

Levi, who affectionately calls Matthew ‘Dad,’ loves surfing, playing tennis, and creating music. He’s also gained a significant following online, with 449,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok.

Matthew McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves, founder of Women of Today, have two children together: a 15-year-old daughter named Vida and a 12-year-old son named Livingston. They were married for 13 years.

The author of Poems & Prayers first encountered the 43-year-old Brazilian model, who used to work as a housekeeper, in 2006 at the popular Hollywood club Hyde.

Matthew is also set to appear in several future acting roles, including the crime thriller ‘The Rivals of Amziah King’ directed by Andrew Patterson, a new Netflix series by Nic Pizzolatto focusing on the relationship between brothers, and a currently unnamed Mike Hammer movie also from Pizzolatto.

Matthew McConaughey is set to appear in a new 10-part comedy series called Brother from Another Mother on Apple TV+, alongside Woody Harrelson. He’s also going to star in a movie based on the video game Exodus from Wisdom Tree.

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2025-09-24 17:50