Matthew McConaughey wants his son Levi to become comfortable with something every actor eventually encounters: failure.
The Oscar-winning actor recently opened up to E! News about the advice he has given his 18-year-old son after Levi made his acting debut alongside his father in “The Lost Bus.”
Rather than encouraging Levi to chase perfection, McConaughey wants him to take chances and learn how to handle the rejection that comes with working in Hollywood.
“You’ve got to be able to deal with rejection, that’s part of it,” McConaughey told the outlet, according to People.
The actor explained that enjoying the process is particularly important because performers inevitably hear “no” throughout their careers.
Matthew McConaughey Encourages Son Levi to ‘Fail More’
McConaughey’s advice centers on being willing to take risks even when they don’t work out.
He said he would rather see Levi fully commit during an audition than leave wondering what could have happened if he hadn’t hesitated.
“Make a fool of yourself. Fail more. Try and fail more,” McConaughey told E! News.
For the 56-year-old actor, those unsuccessful moments can be an important part of finding success in a competitive industry.
However, McConaughey isn’t assuming that acting will necessarily become his son’s career.
He and wife Camila Alves McConaughey have instead taken an approach that allows their children to explore their interests without pressuring them to follow a specific path.
McConaughey told the outlet that he and his wife will do their best to “open doors” for their children. What happens after that, he said, is ultimately up to them.
“I don’t know if it’s something he’s going to want to pursue as a career,” McConaughey said of Levi.
GettyLevi McConaughey Grew Up Around Movie Sets
Although Levi’s long-term plans remain uncertain, the entertainment industry isn’t unfamiliar territory for him.
McConaughey explained that his eldest son grew up spending time around movie sets. Levi has worked around crews and experimented with making short films at home.
He eventually stepped in front of the camera himself, appearing alongside his father in “The Lost Bus.”
Levi celebrated another milestone this summer when he turned 18.
McConaughey marked his son’s birthday with an Instagram tribute in July. People reported that the actor shared a photograph of the pair together in Austin, Texas, where they posed while making the University of Texas’ familiar “Hook ’em Horns” hand sign.
The proud father encouraged Levi to enjoy and responsibly handle the new freedoms that come with adulthood.
McConaughey and Alves McConaughey also share daughter Vida and younger son Livingston.
As Levi begins making his own decisions about what comes next, his father’s advice leaves plenty of room for experimentation.
Whether acting ultimately becomes Levi’s career or simply one chapter in his life, McConaughey wants his son to be willing to put himself out there, accept the possibility of rejection and keep trying.
For McConaughey, taking the chance and failing can be more valuable than wondering what might have happened.
