Why Matthew McConaughey hid son Levi's surname from director during audition for their new film

Being a nepo baby has its perks – the best seats in restaurants, invitations to A-list events and even a step up the Hollywood ladder.

But superstar Matthew McConaughey was so determined for his son Levi to make it on his own that he hid his surname from the director of his new film to ensure he got a role on his own merits.

McConaughey made the revelation during a Q&A session at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where his new film The Lost Bus, made its world premiere.

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McConaughey, who shares Levi, 17, with his wife of 13 years Camila Alves, invited his son onto the stage and said he initially had no idea Levi was interested in performing.

He said he only found out after he told his family he had taken on the role of real-life bus driver Kevin McKay.

The film was directed and co-written by Paul Greengrass and is based on the book Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire.

McConaughey says he always pitches the scripts he is working on to his family.

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"I got to the part about Kevin having a son and [Levi] asked me one day, 'Well how old is he?' and I said, 'He's about your age'."

McConaughey said his son immediately asked if he could read for the part but the proud dad said he initially ignored his question.

It was only after "he came back four more times" that he agreed to help him.

''I knew they had to cast the part, [so I] pulled out the camera [and] worked with him on a scene and sent that to [casting director] Francine Maisler," McConaughey said.

"And I said, I've never had a note [but] I think he might be good enough for a callback.

"And she wrote back, 'I think it might be good enough show to Paul'.

"I said, 'If you do that will you do me one favour. Will you pull the last name off so... there's no McConaughey?' and she said 'Yes'.

"The next call I got was... 'That's the guy, that's the son', and he was told, 'That happens to be Matthew's son' and then in Paul fashion [he] was like, 'Even better!'"

The movie is Levi's second role this year, with the teen also appearing in another upcoming release, Way of the Warrior Kid.

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Levi is McConaughey's eldest child. He and Alves also share daughter, Vida, 15, and son Livingston, 12.

Their two eldest children were born before they married in June 2012. Livingston arrived that December.

The family moved to Texas in 2014.

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