Matthew McConaughey winning Best Actor | 86th Oscars (2014)

Summary

In this Oscar acceptance speech, Matthew McConaughey expresses gratitude to the Academy, his fellow nominees, and his family. He highlights three guiding principles in his life: something to look up to, something to look forward to, and someone to chase. McConaughey credits God as his inspiration, his family as his motivation, and a personal hero—himself in ten years—as the person he is constantly striving to become. His speech is filled with heartfelt reflections and ends on his signature note: 'Alright, alright, alright.'

Takeaways

• 🏆 Matthew McConaughey wins the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in 'Dallas Buyers Club.'
• 🙌 He expresses gratitude to the Academy and acknowledges the impeccable performances of the other nominees.
• 🎬 McConaughey thanks his director, Jean-Marc Vallee, as well as co-stars Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner.
• 🙏 He emphasizes the importance of three things in his life: something to look up to, something to look forward to, and someone to chase.
• 🙏 McConaughey attributes his success to God, stating that gratitude reciprocates.
• 👪 He thanks his family, mentioning his father, who taught him what it means to be a man, and his mother, who taught him self-respect.
• 💖 He acknowledges his wife Camila and his children for their daily support and inspiration.
• 🚀 McConaughey reveals that his hero is always himself in ten years, symbolizing his ongoing personal growth and self-improvement.
• 🎯 He explains that chasing his future self keeps him motivated and striving for continuous progress.
• 🙏 He concludes with a positive message, encouraging others to pursue their goals and to keep moving forward.

Q & A

What event is this transcript from?

The transcript is from the Oscars ceremony where Matthew McConaughey won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Which movie did Matthew McConaughey win the Oscar for?

Matthew McConaughey won the Oscar for his performance in 'Dallas Buyers Club.'

Who were the other nominees in the category for Best Actor?

The other nominees were Christian Bale for 'American Hustle,' Bruce Dern for 'Nebraska,' Leonardo DiCaprio for 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' and Chiwetel Ejiofor for '12 Years a Slave.'

What are the three things Matthew McConaughey says he needs each day?

He needs something to look up to, something to look forward to, and someone to chase.

Who does McConaughey thank first in his speech?

He first thanks God, saying that God is who he looks up to.

How does McConaughey describe his father during the speech?

McConaughey imagines his father up in heaven with a big pot of gumbo, a lemon meringue pie, likely in his underwear, drinking a cold can of Miller Lite, and dancing.

What lesson did McConaughey's mother teach him and his brothers?

She taught them to respect themselves, which in turn made them better able to respect others.

Who are the four people in McConaughey's life that he wants to make proud?

He mentions his wife Camilla and his three children, Levi, Vida, and Livingston.

Who is McConaughey’s hero according to his speech?

McConaughey says his hero is himself in ten years, and he keeps chasing this future version of himself.

What is the meaning behind McConaughey's idea of always chasing his hero?

The idea is that he will never truly attain his hero, as it represents his continual pursuit of self-improvement and growth over time.