Matthew McConaughey wanted to make an animated movie for his kids

McConaughey has three children, sons Levi, eight, and Livingstone, four, and seven-year-old daughter Vida with his wife Camila Alves, and he made the decision to seek out an animation while watching a film with them but he had to wait four years for a part to be offered to him.

In an interview on 'This Morning', he said: "I got tired of answering the question, 'So what film have you made that is your kids' favourite?' I looked at my last 10 years and I hadn't really done one that they could see. So I'd watch animated films with them, and I was like, 'You know what? I want to make an animated film, do some voice work.' Nobody was hiring me for about four years and then I got a call. It's a lot of fun, it's easier than live action."

Matthew had to gain a lot of weight for his depiction of prospector Kenny Wells in his latest live-action movie 'Gold' which he was happy to do for the role.

The Hollywood hunk admits the thing he definitely enjoyed about making an animation is that it didn't matter what he looked like when he turned up for work.

He explained: "It doesn't matter what you look like when you do animated films. You can weigh 250 pounds or 150 pounds, no one cares. ['Gold'] was a blast - all those cheeseburgers and beer!"

Although the Texas-born star has now shed the weight he had to gain for 'Gold', his children preferred him with a little extra cushioning and nicknamed him "Captain Fun" when he was 47 lbs heavier.

He said: "I think my kids actually miss that version of me, I was known as Captain Fun."