10 Actors Who SAVED Their Careers By Turning Down Movie Roles

6. Matthew McConaughey Turned Down $14.5 Million To Make Another Rom-Com

Closer Natalie Portman Dirty Dancing Havana Nights
Paramount

As much as Matthew McConaughey is accepted to be a terrific actor today, even having a Best Actor Oscar to his name, it wasn't too long ago that he was stuck in a rut of low-effort, high-paying rom-coms.

However, the actor's career rejuvenation - affectionally referred to as the "McConaissance" - happened after he made the difficult decision to turn down a payday that most jobbing performers could only ever dream of.

In his recent memoir, McConaughey turned down a whopping $14.5 million in 2010 to star in another rom-com vehicle, the name of which he didn't disclose.

Almost immediately after this, the actor began starring in more "worthy" dramas such as Bernie, Killer Joe, Mud, Magic Mike, Dallas Buyers Club (for which he scooped the Oscar), and The Wolf of Wall Street, before starring in Christopher Nolan's sci-fi tentpole Interstellar.

Though nobody could've blamed McConaughey for accepting the payday, artistic integrity won out and his career rebounded almost immediately.

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Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.