McConaughey's 'Sahara'

Matthew McConaughey is a classic Hollywood leading man, able to jump from drama to comedy to action with relative ease.

His latest film manages to mix all three. In "Sahara," McConaughey plays an explorer hot on the trail of a life-long obsession.

"I had been looking for sort of franchise character," he tells The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler. "The action adventure guy, like Dirk Pitt, that good all-American rogue; but also marine biologist, diver, guy who brings up antiquities from the deep, bottom of the ocean, chases the unknown, has his own little treasure that nobody else even believes it's possible."

Based on the best seller by Clive Cussler, McConaughey, who is also one of the film's executive producers, spent seven years lobbying for the part.

"Next thing I know, we're all off in the desert to make it," he says. "I had to get the approval of the author. Quite a few circumstances aligned, and it all happened."

As Dirk Pitt, he and his lifelong pal (played by Steve Zahn) go on an adventure to recover a long-lost Civil War ship with a secret cargo. Penelope Cruz plays a doctor with the World Health Organization. So how is it that their worlds collide?

"What I'm looking for, is the source of the disease that she's looking for," McConaughey explains. "So she's trying to solve a problem, a conflict. I'm just chasing down a treasure."

And more than chasing, he does. McConaughey says he did most of the stunts, perhaps a few more than the insurance compay allowed him to do. So once the film was over, his body asked for some rest.

"I took a couple of months off after this one and just laid horizontal for a while, let everything rest," he says.

That, plus spending some time with the film's leading lady offscreen.

About Penelope Cruz, McConaughey was quoted saying, "She pleases my eyes. Secondly, she has a lot of respect for herself, her history and her family. She has a lot of respect for who she is now, and who she is going to be."
And he confirms the quote on the show.

"That's my favorite thing about most of the people in my life that I do care about, that they have a respect for themselves," he says, "That they're connected to their lineage and history. Penelope does. With that respect for her past, herself, her family, it's how she moves forward."

For now, the couple is traveling around the country. Syler points out, it doesn't seem Cruz is much of a prima donna.

"I'm always interested in what the exact definition of a diva is," McConaughey notes. "What I like about divas, at least they let you know what they want. They give you the list. That's a lot better than when someone shows up and doesn't know what they want. She definitely knows what she wants but she's comfortable. She's been on the road with me a couple of times. It's great way to live and see the country."

Asked if there is any truth in rumors that they are going to get married, he says, "No, that's not true. I would be the first to know, and I would let you know."

About Matthew McConaughey

• Born and raised in Uvalde, Texas, Nov. 4, 1969.
  Attended University of Texas at Austin. Majored in film in 1993.
• In 1991, began his acting career. He appeared in student films and local commercials in Texas and directed short films, including "Chicano Chariots." He met casting director Don Phillips in an Austin bar; five hours later, after their rowdiness had got them booted from that bar, Phillips reportedly said "You know, you might be right for this part" in "Dazed and Confused."
• In 1993, made his feature film acting debut in bit part in "My Boyfriend's Back." He also landed the role of Wooderson in "Dazed and Confused", directed by Richard Linklater. His character was initially in three scenes but the role grew to more than 300 lines.
• In 1995, he starred opposite fellow Texan Renee Zellweger (who had also acted in "Dazed and Confused") in "The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre," playing a bloodthirsty killer; The same year he had his breakthrough film role in "Boys on the Side," in which he played policeman Abe Lincoln who falls in love with Drew Barrymore's Holly.
• In 1996, he portrayed Sheriff Buddy Deeds, suspected of killing his predecessor (Kris Kristofferson), in John Sayles' "Lone Star." He also starred opposite Sandra Bullock in the film adaptation of John Grisham's novel "A Time to Kill," directed by Joel Schumacher.

  At that time, he was on the cover of Vanity Fair and was dubbed Hollywood's next big thing." He worked alongside Bill Murray and an elephant in "Larger than Life." He also formed J.K. Livin' Productions; the name was taken from his "Dazed and Confused" character's motto, "just keep livin.'"

• In 1997, he co-starred with Bullock in her short film "Making Sandwiches," which he also co-produced; played Jodie Foster's love interest in "Contact" and an attorney defending the rebellious slaves of the "Amistad."
• In 1998, he teamed again with Richard Linklater as one of "The Newton Boys." The story of four Texas bank-robbing brothers was close to home since the Newtons had actually settled in Uvalde (McConaughey's birthplace). The actor's eldest brother, Rooster, had bought his first horse from Joe Newton. McConaughey during this time also wrote, directed and starred in the 20-minute short "The Rebel."
• In 1999, he portrayed the lead in Ron Howard's "EDTV." He starred as an ordinary guy who allows cameras to follow him.

  On Oct. 25 of this year, McConaughey was arrested in Texas for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and resisting transport. All charges were eventually dropped and the actor was fined $50 for violation of a noise ordinance.

• In 2000, he starred as Lt. Andrew Tyler, executive officer to Lt. Commander Mike Dahlgrin (Bill Paxton), in "U-571," the story of a daring mission to steal a top-secret coding device from a German U-Boat during World War II.
• In 2001, he acted opposite Jennifer Lopez in "The Wedding Planner" and had a starring role in the feature "13 Conversations About One Thing," which was screened at Toronto and shown at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.
• In 2002, He won praise from fantasy fans as a dragon fighter in the surprisingly fresh "Reign of Fire." He also co-starred in Bill Pullman's directing debut "Frailty."
• In 2003, McConaughey was the targeted subject of Kate Hudson's character in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."