Fortune Teller Convinced Matthew McConaughey To Take His Most Annoying Role
Matthew McConaughey revealed that a fortune teller told him to star in How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
Matthew McConaughey says a fortune teller convinced him to star in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. The actor made the revelation during an interview with Vanity Fair, saying he had been uncertain about signing on for the movie before the strange encounter. “I remember considering whether I was going to do it or not while on a walk down Sunset Boulevard,” he told the publication.
The 53-year-old recalled how a man suddenly came up to him out of nowhere. “He was a fortune teller guru and goes, ‘Can I tell you your fortune real quick?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, man. Sure.’”
Matthew McConaughey said the man immediately gave him specifics about the movie, telling the actor that not accepting it would be a huge mistake professionally and financially.
“He immediately goes, ‘There’s a movie you’re considering right now. It’s a romantic comedy. You have to do this or it will be one of the biggest regrets of your life.'”
“‘It is going to be a blast, it is going to be an incredible experience and it is going to make a bunch of money,’” Matthew McConaughey said, relaying the strange conversation.
The fortune teller was so convincing. Matthew McConaughey initially thought the studio hired the man to sway his decision. Although he laughed at the idea, the actor said he put more thought into his decision about the movie.
“I think I accepted the offer the next day,” he told Vanity Fair. While the encounter may have persuaded the Sing star to portray Benjamin Barry, his co-star also helped.
After Kate Hudson signed on to play Andie Anderson, she told the studio that Matthew McConaughey would be the perfect Benjamin Barry. “We were looking at guys and kept going back and forth about who would be the right guy,” the actress told Vanity Fair. Since the role was important for her performance, the 43-year-old strongly backed his casting when his name came up in a meeting.
“I thought that was a great idea. I loved his energy,” Hudson said about Matthew McConaughey. “We immediately just got along.” Interestingly, the actress wasn’t the first choice for the lead in How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
Gwyneth Paltrow was originally slated to play Andie Anderson. But when things fell through, the Glass Onion star took the role instead.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the film’s release. When Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson were asked about a potential sequel, the actress told Vanity Fair that nothing is in the works. But the movie does appear to have gained a following from younger generations.
Speaking to TODAY in 2022 she said the movie had a very feminist twist that inspired young girls then and now.
Directed by Donald Petrie, How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days is based on the picture book of the same name by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long. Since the source material had no text the characters and plot were created specifically for the movie. The story sees advertising executive Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) “bet” that he can make any woman fall in love with him.
At the same time, magazine writer Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) decides to pen a “how-to in reverse” story about dating. This puts the pair at cross-purposes when they secretly choose each other as their romantic partners at a party. The movie, starring Matthew McConaughey, was released mixed reviews from critics in February 2003.
