• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
Why Matthew McConaughey is convinced Woody Harrelson is his real brother following bizarre story his mum told him

Home> Entertainment> Celebrity

Updated 16:07 29 Sep 2025 GMT+1Published 11:17 25 Apr 2025 GMT+1

Why Matthew McConaughey is convinced Woody Harrelson is his real brother following bizarre story his mum told him

It all started when McConaughey revealed his mother had once told Harrelson she ‘knew’ his father - with a bit of a wink and a nudge

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey being brothers may sound like the beginnings of a Hollywood comedy, but it turns out there might be substance to the bizarre theory.

It all started when McConaughey revealed his mother had once told Harrelson she ‘knew’ his father – with a bit of a wink and a nudge - telling the Let's Talk Off Camera podcast: "In Greece a few years ago, we’re sitting around talking about how close we are and our families.

"And my mom is there, and she says, 'Woody, I knew your dad'. Everyone was aware of the ellipses that my mom left after ‘knew’.

"It was a loaded K-N-E-W."

Advert

He continued: "We went on to unpack what this ‘knew’ meant and did some math and found out that [Woody Harrelson's] dad was on furlough at the same time that my mom and dad were in their second divorce.

McConaughey's mum admitted she 'knew' Harrelson's father (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
McConaughey's mum admitted she 'knew' Harrelson's father (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

“Then there’s possible receipts and places out in West Texas where there might have been a gathering, or a meeting, or a ‘knew’ moment."

Harrelson later confirmed to Esquire that rumours they could be brothers was more than just internet hearsay, admitting it’s something he’d ‘felt’ for years.

“Well, it’s very much true,” he said in an interview with Esquire.

“I learned from Ma Mac, Matthew’s mother, that she did have a relationship with my father for a relatively short period of time that coincided with the time that his father and mother were on a sabbatical, and with the time of Matthew’s, let’s say, origination. We haven’t done a test, but there are too many times that I think to myself, My God, the similarities! The things he does, the things he says - just the way he is. I’ve felt that for years.”

But while Harrelson was all on board with getting a DNA test to find out once and for all, McConaughey had his reservations.

The pair in 1999 (John Anderson/Getty Images)
The pair in 1999 (John Anderson/Getty Images)

In an interview with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the Natural Born Killers star explained: "We want to go for a [DNA] test, but for [McConaughey], it’s a much more [of a] big deal.

"I mean he feels like he is losing a father. But I’m like, no, you’re gaining a different father and a brother."

However, it now sounds like he’s warming to the idea.

Last month, Harrelson told Johnny Vaughan on Radio X: "Well, we haven't done the DNA test, but we're probably going to do that. I think there's a real possibility."

Thankfully, they’ve already got the means to do the DNA test, too, as legendary talk show host Maury Povich previously offered to do the honours.

We are all SO invested...

Featured Image Credit: Gary Miller/Getty Images

Topics: Celebrity, Matthew McConaughey

Jess Hardiman
Jess Hardiman

Jess is Entertainment Desk Lead at LADbible Group. She graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

X

@Jess_Hardiman

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

16 hours ago
18 hours ago
19 hours ago
  • Jacopo Raule/Getty Images
    16 hours ago

    Kylie Jenner reveals whether she wants more children in rare admission

    The reality TV star, 28, already shares daughter Stormi and son Aire with rapper ex, Travis Scott

    Entertainment
  • Netflix
    18 hours ago

    Controversial manosphere influencers explain alarming 'one-sided monogamy' relationship trend

    Louis Theroux meets with provocative male influencers Justin Weller and Myron Gaines in his new Netflix documentary, Inside the Manosphere

    Entertainment
  • Kevin Mazur / Contributor / via Getty
    19 hours ago

    Kylie Jenner gets 'flustered' after revealing how she really felt about Timothée Chalamet shouting her out on stage

    The reality TV star got 'heart-fluttery' and 'shy' when she was asked about her relationship with Timothée Chalamet

    Entertainment
  • Instagram/@thylaneblondeau
    19 hours ago

    'Most beautiful girl in the world' shares major life update announcement

    Thylane Blondeau, now 24, received the title when she was just six years old

    Entertainment
  • Chris Hughes brother defends his relationship with JoJo Siwa after fans slam him over ‘inappropriate’ comment towards her
  • Woody Harrelson wanted DNA test to see if Matthew McConaughey could be his biological brother
  • Matthew McConaughey reveals real reason he fled Hollywood with his family
  • Matthew McConaughey reveals ‘pact’ he made with his wife after leaving Hollywood