8 Signs Colin Farrell Is The New Matthew McConaughey

Regardless of the movie at hand, one thing that’s followed both McConaughey and Farrell throughout their careers is their status as a sex symbol. Very much a double-edged sword, this status was likely one of the main reasons they were able to secure so many major lead roles, but also limited what they could do to the public eye.

Like an extension of being typecast, their looks limited the range of opportunities they could have. But looks are something one can change, and so the actors did.

Taking a page out of the Christian Bale bible, Matthew McConaughey was nearly unrecognizable as the emaciated Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club. His performance was acclaimed, and the physical transformation only added to it. He compounded that with True Detective, sporting a scraggly wig and handlebar moustache for a good portion of the series.

On the opposite side of things, Farrell didn’t lose weight, but rather gained it. The fat buffoon teased in Horrible Bosses became a reality for The Lobster, transforming the Irish hunk into an unidentifiable average Joe. Then, exactly like McConaughey, he joined True Detective in a moustachioed role. Add some salt and pepper to his hair and Farrell is made anew, having foregone the handsome look and stepping into a new part of his career with the same physical method that McConaughey did.