Matthew McConaughey Barely Recognizable When Spotted in New Orleans

Matthew McConaughey is allegedly looking so skinny that he was barely recognizable when spotted at the New Orleans airport leaving for the set of The Dallas Buyers Club over the weekend. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the enigmatic actor underwent a drastic weight transformation in preparation for playing an AIDS patient in the movie.

McConaughey reportedly dropped nearly 40 pounds before the cameras started rolling, according to ABC News. The 43-year-old star is portraying an AIDS patient who was seeking experimental HIV treatment during the 1980s. The normally muscular actor was photographed at a New Orleans airport when he was hopping a flight to Los Angeles to begin filming on Sunday, OMG Yahoo notes.

The Dallas Buyers Club star had this to say during an interview with Larry King:

“It’s a bit of a spiritual cleanse, mental cleanse. I’m drinking a lot of tea. It takes a while for your body to understand that it has to feed off itself, and that you’re not going to give it something else from the outside. I should not look healthy by the time I’m doing this.”

A gaunt McConaughey has been fasting on a diet fresh fish and a daily glass of wine, according to Indiewire. The Magic Mike star is reportedly down from 182 to 143 pounds, according to USA Today.

Throngs of female fans who lust after the normally well-toned star and have included him on their “monogamy with exceptions” list will likely be thrilled when The Dallas Buyers Club filming wraps and McConaughey’s typical physique returns. The actor is reportedly shifting his approach to picking projects and is “most interested” in taking chances and engaging in challenging roles.