Star even plans a tour

Matthew McConaughey wants to become a stand-up.

The Hollywood star says he’s drawn to the freedom comedians have to express themselves – and was even planning a tour before the pandemic struck.

Appearing  on Russell Howard’s Sky One show tonight, the actor said: ‘I haven’t shared this with many people but stand up is a no-filter communication.

‘What I do as an actor, which is why I’m interested in doing stand-up, is my raw expression goes through four filters before it gets to the screen.

‘I’m doing someone else’s script, I’m being directed by someone else, I’m being filmed by someone else, I’m being edited by someone else before it’s put in a capsule and put in front of you on screen. That’s four filters from my original expression. So that’s the goal.

‘The plan before Covid was, I was planning on taking to the road and telling stories in an hour of stand-up.’

Howard told McConaughey he thought he’d make a great comic, but added that comedy was addictive.

‘It sounds like a great thing to be addicted to,’ the Oscar-winner said. ‘The ultimate buzz. You look today at stand-up comics, they are the best truth tellers we have. If I can get away with this, then I’d love to.’

• The Russell Howard Hour is on Sky One at 10pm tonight.

Published: 19 Nov 2020