Matthew McConaughey completed his journey from rom-com washout to Oscar winner Sunday night. And he made sure to acknowledge God’s role in that trek during his Best Actor acceptance speech for the film Dallas Buyers Club.
“First off, I want to thank God because that’s who I look up to,” the new Oscar winner said. The assembled actors, directors and industry heavy hitters grew rather quiet, unsure how to react to his overt religious praise.
McConaughey, who dropped an alarming amount of weight to play a man suffering from AIDS, reverted to his aw-shucks persona from there. He thanked his father, who he said was watching from above “with a big pot of gumbo” and a “cold can of Miller Lite in his hand.”
“Dad, you taught me what it means to be a man,” he said.
McConaughey wrapped his speech with his now signature, “alright, alright alright” phrase as well as “Just Keep Livin,” the name of his foundation which helps high school students “lead active lives and make healthy choices to become great men and women.”