Matthew McConaughey took a 8-year ‘hiatus’ from his mom for this reason

Matthew McConaughey was dazed and confused by his mom’s actions.

The actor, 55, revealed that he had to take a step back from speaking to Kay McConaughey for almost a decade because she was leaking stories to the press.

“We had about an eight-year period where I had to have short conversations with her on our Sunday phone calls because she was sharing a lot of that information,” McConaughey told People. “I’d tell her something on Sunday between son and mom, and Tuesday I’d read about it in the news or see it in the local paper. She couldn’t help herself.”

Kay, 93, confirmed to the outlet that they “were on a hiatus” because of that.

“About eight years after that, I got stable enough with my own position and fame that I was like, ‘You know what? My mom can say whatever the hell she wants,’” added McConaughey. “It’s much more fun now… I’d say we’re closer now.”

Now, the family is as tight as ever, with Kay, the Oscar winner and his son, Levi, all starring in the Apple TV+ movie “The Lost Bus.”

The project is based on true events from the 2018 Camp Fire in the town of Paradise. The wildfire still remains one of the deadliest in California’s history. 

Kay’s last acting role was in the 2011 comedy thriller “Bernie” alongside her son.

The “Lost Bus” also marks Levi’s acting debut.

“I had to badger him,” the 17-year-old admitted to the outlet about joining the film.

McConaughey noted he was “open” to Levi following in his footsteps – but that wasn’t always the case.

“The first 15 years in Hollywood I was like, ‘I’d never want my kid to grow up in the business,’” the “Interstellar” alum explained.

“And when I hit about 40, right about the time we had Levi, I looked around at how many special people I’ve met in my life, how much travel and what an awesome, healthy, cool experience that’s been for me in my life. I was like, ‘Where are you coming up with this idea you don’t want any of your kids to do it?’ It’d be a privilege if they would be able to.”

Despite his change of mind, earlier this month, McConaughey confessed he was still hesitant to allow Levi – whom he shares with wife Camila Alves McConaughey, to audition.

“I had no idea that this young man, my son, was interested [in acting],” he revealed during a Q&A following the screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, “but when I pitched the script to the family, as I always do before work, the part about Kevin [McKay] having a son, he asked me one day, ‘Well, how old is he?’ I said, ‘He’s about your age.’ And then he goes, ‘Think I could read for it?’ And I didn’t say anything. That wasn’t enough to make me say ‘maybe’ or anything.”

Levi, however, continued to inquire about the part.

McConaughey recalled, “He came back four more times and I said, ‘Okay, now he’s working for it, for the idea.’ And I said, ‘Yeah.’ I knew they hadn’t cast the part. Pulled out the camera, worked with him on a scene, and sent that to [casting director] Francine Maisler, and I said — remember I had a note? — I said, ‘I think it might be good enough for a callback.’ And she wrote back, ‘I think it might be good enough to show to Paul.’”

The “Dazed and Confused” star had one request before director Paul Greengrass saw the tape.

McConaughey told Maisler, “When you do that, will you do me one favor? Will you pull the last name off so it’s just, there’s no McConaughey on the end of that?”

“She said yes,” the Texas native shared. “Next call I got, [Paul] said, he goes, ‘That’s the guy, that’s the son.’ And then he was told, ‘Well, that happens to be Matthew’s son.’ And in Paul fashion, he was like, ‘Even better!’ … So this is all due to Paul. My family’s in this film because of this man to the left.”

Jamie Lee Curtis serves as a producer on the “Lost Bus,” while the rest of the star-studded cast includes America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson and Spencer Watson.

According to a synopsis, McConaughey stars as a school bus driver who, alongside a dedicated school teacher (Ferrera, 41), “battle to save 22 children from the terrifying inferno.”

Along with Levi, McConaughey and Alves, 42, who tied the knot in 2012, are also parents to Vida, 15, and Livingston, 12.

McConaughey and his family relocated to Texas during the height of his career, moving to the Lone Star State in 2014.

Once in Texas, McConaughey told his partner that he would only return to California if he were “offered roles I want to do.”

“Luckily, Camila got pregnant with our first child. So there was purpose coming to look forward to,” he stated on the “Good Trouble With Nick Kyrgios” podcast in 2024. “But I was still like, ‘Man’s gotta work.’ Making chimes and working in the garden wasn’t cutting it.”

“The Lost Bus” will be available to stream on Apple TV+ Oct. 3.