Shirtless star gives up on rom-coms (+trailer)

Matthew McConaughey is ready to spread his wings. Photo / Supplied

Matthew McConaughey says he is done with romantic comedies.

The actor is famous for appearing shirtless as a romantic lead in a string of films including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Failure to Launch, but he is ready for more edgy roles, such as playing a ruthless hitman in Killer Joe.

He told Shortlist magazine: "It's another chapter for sure. I did have to say no to a lot of romantic comedies. I think Hollywood got a little bit like, 'Okay, he seriously doesn't want to do any more of these right now.'

"And however the world works, something happened and the message got out."

The 42-year-old star - who is married to Brazilian model Camila Alves, with whom he has two children, son Levi and daughter Vida - knew Killer Joe was the right role for him to refresh his career after he felt sick when first reading the script.

He added: "The first time I read Killer Joe I thought, 'I don't want anything to do with this.

"'I feel sick to my stomach and I need to take a shower.'

"I went back and read it again and suddenly it clicked. Oh, 'this is a riot man. It was exactly what it was looking for. I was like, yeah, this acting thing, it's a rodeo. All right, lets go ride the bull. Let's go shake some s**t up!"

Killer Joe is in cinemas at the end of this month.

- Bang! Showb