Matthew McConaughey to spend Christmas in Brazil with his wife's family

Speaking to E! News about his festive plans, he shared: "We switch it up. Usually we are with our families. My family is in West Texas and her family is in Brazil. So we are going to go over and spend time with her Brazilian family."

It comes after the 'Free State of Jones' actor admitted he is still scared of his mum - even at the age of 47.

McConaughey was raised along with his two brothers in Texas by his mother Mary and his late father James and he readily admits his mum, a former kindergarten teacher and published author, was an intimidating character when he was a kid and still is now at the ripe old age of 84.

He recently said: "She's 84, but she's still spry."

McConaughey still to this day will not answer to abbreviations of his Christian name, like 'Matt' or 'Matty', due to an incident at kindergarten when his mother Mary, who was also his teacher, admonished him for answering to a nickname.

He remembered: "I answered to Matt one time when I was in kindergarten, when my Mum was my teacher. My buddy goes, 'Hey Matt! Wanna play on the monkey bars?' and I said, 'Yeah,' and ran to the monkey bars ... and next thing I know I feel a hand on my shoulder pull me back and body slam me to the ground - and it was my mother. She says to me, 'What's your name?' and I said, 'Matthew ...' and she goes, 'Why did you answer to Matt?' And I said, 'I don't know, I knew he was talking to me!' Then she said 'Don't you ever answer to that again - I named you Matthew on purpose.' So if anyone calls me 'Matt' I know they either don't know me well or they're jacking with me.