McConaughey’s ‘Scary’ Method Acting Terrified Iglesias

McConaughey’s ‘Scary’ Method Acting Terrified Iglesias on Magic Mike Set

Matthew McConaughey’s commitment to his craft is legendary, but for Gabriel Iglesias, it bordered on terrifying during the filming of ‘Magic Mike.’ The comedian revealed that McConaughey’s intense dedication to staying in character as ‘Tobias’ led to some deeply unsettling moments, where he refused to acknowledge Iglesias by his real name, leaving the comedian questioning his sanity.

“He’s very method, by the way. He’s scary. He’s scary because the first time I’m doing a scene with him, you know, we do the scene and cut. And I’m like, ‘Okay, cool. Good scene, right?’ And right away he’s like, ‘So Tobias, how are we looking tonight on the numbers?'” Iglesias recounted on the ‘Club Shay’ podcast. McConaughey, fully immersed in his role, consistently addressed Iglesias as ‘Tobias,’ the name of his character in the film, even after the cameras stopped rolling.

This immersive approach continued throughout the day. “Then we’re over at the we went to uh lunch and we’re, you know, catering and stuff like that. And he comes up, he’s got the tray, and he’s like, ‘What kind of sound system are you working with tonight?'” Iglesias explained. “I’m like, ‘Well, I don’t know. It’s, you know, it’s not really my system. I’m just I’m messing with a little keyboard. It’s not mine, but you know, I’ll let you know.'” The persistent questioning, all while McConaughey remained in character, began to unnerve Iglesias.

Breaking Character, Finally

The comedian admitted the constant barrage of character-driven dialogue left him feeling anxious. “He kept going, right? … And at one point I just it clicked this. He’s still in character. He would not break character. He would not break character. And it scared the [expletive] out of me,” Iglesias confessed. “Every time he’d look at me, he’s like, ‘Tobias,’ I’m like, ‘I gotta I got to pee.’ And I just I’d walk away.”

The tension finally broke on the last day of shooting. As the wrap-up call sounded, McConaughey, who had been on a strict diet for the film, ordered burgers for the cast and crew. While gathered at the bar, McConaughey finally addressed Iglesias by his real name. “He goes, ‘Gabriel,’ and he called me by my name and I’m like what? I go, ‘Don’t you mean Tobias?'” Iglesias recalled. “He goes, ‘Oh, come on, baby.'”

McConaughey then explained his intense commitment. “He starts telling me, he goes, ‘I just when I get in character, I commit to that character.'” Iglesias, relieved but still taken aback, responded, “Bro, I I thought you were crazy.” The two actors eventually bonded, and Iglesias noted that he recently ran into McConaughey at a wrestling event, where the actor was “so sweet.”

Iglesias’s Journey to the Big Screen

Iglesias also reflected on his own career path, particularly how he landed the role in ‘Magic Mike.’ Unlike many actors who go through rigorous audition processes, Iglesias was cast based on his comedic talent. “I didn’t audition for it. Right? Someone saw me doing stand-up and said, ‘Dude, this guy’s funny. We need him in the movie.'” He emphasized that his focus has always been on comedy itself, not as a stepping stone to other forms of entertainment.

“I don’t see comedy as a stepping stone. I see comedy as as the destination. That’s what I want it to be,” he stated. “But early on, everybody’s telling you, you got to have a Tonight Show. You got to have a a HBO special. Back then, it was only an HBO special. You need a sitcom, and then you need a development deal, and you need movies.” Iglesias found that this traditional path involved a lot of waiting and uncertainty.

“It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of sitting around, Gabe, to be honest with you. It’s a lot of waiting. Hurry up and wait. We need you on the set at 6:00 a.m. and then you’re on the set at 10 and you’re like, I could have been sleeping this whole time,” he explained. This realization led him to prioritize his passion for stand-up, which ultimately opened doors for him in film.

Appreciating the Craft

Iglesias expressed admiration for actors like McConaughey who fully commit to their roles, acknowledging the demanding nature of filmmaking. He also praised the work ethic of comedians like Kevin Hart, who manages multiple projects simultaneously. “I firmly believe there’s like nine Kevin Harts. There’s got to be. There’s one at the gym. There’s one at the movie set right now. There’s one promoting films. You know, he’s he’s a workaholic, man, and and I don’t have that energy and you know, so I applaud him.”

Despite the initial intimidation, Iglesias holds a deep respect for McConaughey’s dedication. “He is an amazing actor and very committed and he deserves all the accolades.” The experience on ‘Magic Mike,’ while nerve-wracking at times, ultimately proved to be a valuable lesson in the power of commitment and the diverse paths to success in Hollywood.

Source: Matthew McConaughey REFUSED To Say Gabriel Iglesias Name In Magic Mike: “He’s scary.” (YouTube)