Opening up about how she was broke in the past, Judy Greer has told how Matthew McConaughey stepped in to help her financially during the early days of her career.
Matthew McConaughey stepped in to help Judy Greer financially during the early days of her career.
The actor, 56, gave the actress cash after a table read for The Wedding Planner when she was unable to pay for her car at a hotel valet, she has revealed.
Directed by Adam Shankman and also starring Jennifer Lopez, the film, went on to gross $94 million worldwide, and featured Matthew as Steve and Judy as Penny – a friend and colleague to Jennifer’s lead character.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Judy, 50, recalled the moment Matthew helped her out, explaining she had been unable to cover the cost of retrieving her car after parking it at the Roosevelt Hotel.
She said: “I valeted my car – I didn’t know any better. I didn’t have enough money to get my car out of the valet because I was so broke. I was on the pay phone in the lobby, calling my friend Sean Gunn and Matthew McConaughey overheard me and gave me $20.
“I was so mortified, but also: (Matthew was) my hero.”
Judy also described working with Matthew on the film as a positive experience.
She added: “I loved seeing him in hair and makeup every morning, because he had pyjamas on and a Yerba mate (tea.)
“I haven’t worked with him since, but I have a feeling not much has changed.”
Following The Wedding Planner, Matthew became closely associated with the romantic comedy genre, appearing in films including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Failure to Launch, Fool’s Gold and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, each of which approached or surpassed $100 million at the global box office.
In 2024, speaking on the Good Trouble podcast, Matthew described leaving Hollywood and relocating his family to Texas after struggling to secure roles outside the genre.
He said he decided: “I’m not going back to work unless I get offered roles I want to do.”
In his 2020 memoir, Matthew detailed turning down a $14.5 million offer to return to romantic comedies.
He said: “That was probably seen as the most rebellious move in Hollywood by me because it really sent the signal, ‘He ain’t f****** bluffing.’ And when you got someone who’s not bluffing, there’s something attractive about that.
“I think that’s what made Hollywood go, ‘You know what? He’s now a new novel idea. He’s a new bright idea’.”
Matthew McConaughey stepped in to help Judy Greer financially during early days of her career
