Despite being one of Hollywood's most popular male leads, having millions in the bank and being dubbed the "sexiest man alive", Matthew McConaughey remains the free-spirited, easy-going Texan he's always been.

Born the youngest of three brothers in Uvalde, Texas, on November 4, 1969, Matthew David McConaughey had what he describes as a conservative Christian upbringing with dad Jim, a former American footballer turned gas station owner, and teacher mum Katherine.

By the time he reached high school the blue-eyed blond was already setting hearts racing, getting voted "most handsome" in his senior year. At 18 he took off for Australia for a year, because, as he says: "I didn't know what the hell I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to go to (college) but didn't know what I wanted to study. I didn't know what I wanted to be. But I knew I liked travel and adventure."

On his return to the US he enrolled on a law course at the University of Texas, later switching to Film. His first screen experience came in 1991 when he appeared in a handful of student films and a beer commercial. A year later the budding moviemaker was directing his own short Chicano Chariots. A chance encounter with casting director Don Phillips in an Austin bar put him back on the other side of the camera, though, when it brought a part in the 1993 coming-of-age drama Dazed And Confused.

It was his first leading role as an idealistic young lawyer in A Time To Kill- which he snatched from seasoned actors Brad Pitt and Val Kilmer - that placed Matthew firmly on the showbiz map, however. And when, in the summer of 1996, Vanity Fair used him on the cover just before the film's release he became an instant media sensation and "the next big thing".

A clutch of romantic comedies, How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days opposite Kate Hudson, The Wedding Planner alongside Jennifer Lopez and Failure To Launch with Sarah Jessica Parker, helped consolidate his career.

An outdoors guy who loves nothing better than a round of golf and hanging out at his Texan ranch, Matthew is often regarded as something of a free spirit. He hasn't lacked for A-list girlfriends, however past flames include A Time To Kill co-star Sandra Bullock and Fast Food Nation actress Patricia Arquette. Although he enjoyed a two-year romance with Sahara co-star Penelope Cruz, that also ended with the pair going their separate ways. "Break-ups suck, but it was pure and honest and we both still respect each other and we're still friends," he said in the wake of their June 2006 split.

There was happier news for the actor in January 2008, after he had been dating Brazilian model Camila Alves for over a year. Via his website he announced to the world that the couple were expecting their first child together - describing the time as a "new and miraculous chapter in my life." The couple welcomed a bouncing baby boy in July 2008.

Described as "a one-man endorphin rush" US mag People dubbed him "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2005 Matthew is adored by fans not only for his rugged good looks but for his down-to-earth approach to life. Happiest wearing a pair of jeans and at the wheel of his car, he prefers beer to Dom Perignon and calls his mum on Sundays the boy next door who just happens to be working in Hollywood.