Matthew McConaughey toys with possible Texas governor run

[November 19, 2020]  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey may be the next celebrity to throw his hat into the political ring.

The star of "Dallas Buyers Club" and "Magic Mike" appeared to be considering the idea when discussing politics with syndicated talk radio host Hugh Hewitt in an interview posted online on Wednesday.

Asked if he would run for governor of Texas or another political office, the actor said he was undecided without ruling it out. McConaughey, 51, was born and raised in Texas before moving to Los Angeles and forging a career in romantic comedies such as "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

"I mean, that wouldn't be up to me. It would be up to the people more than it would me," said McConaughey.

"I would say this," he continued. "Look, politics seems to be a broken business to me right now. And when politics redefines its purpose, I could be a hell of a lot more interested."

In the interview, he described his political philosophy as being "behind personal values to rebind our social contracts with each other as Americans."

But he seemed some way from having made any decision to swap acting for politics.

Actor Matthew McConaughey speaks during a ceremony in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 22, 2019. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo

"I still question how much you can really get done in politics, and I don't know if politics is my avenue to get what maybe I am best equipped to get done," he said.

McConaughey, who won an Oscar for his role in 2013 AIDS drama "Dallas Buyers Club," would be one of a series of celebrities who have flirted with, or won, political office in the United States.

They include Presidents Donald Trump and the late Ronald Reagan, former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Carmel Mayor Clint Eastwood and former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)

[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.