Matthew McConaughey's Body Language Says A Lot About His Potential Run For Governor
Is Matthew McConaughey going to follow in Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger's footsteps and run for governor of Texas? "That would be the most Texan thing ever," writes one Twitter user. He seems to be gearing up, per political reporter Shira Tarlo, who pointed out (via Twitter) McConaughey's recent slew of community outreach work, including a Bingo night for elderly Texans, a campaign-style PSA reminder to wear masks, and recent photo-ops with the US army.
To the Longview News Journal, McConaughey called himself a "free agent" and compared the middle ground between Republicans and Democrats to a space with "dead armadillos and yellow lines." It's an analogy we're sure Texans understand. But when Jimmy Fallon asked the Academy Award winner whether speculation that "maybe you might one day run for governor of Texas" was true, Matthew McConaughey squirmed in his seat. Unable to get a straight answer out of the actor ourselves, The List reached out to body language expert Alison Henderson, to help us decipher McConaughey's political intentions.
Here's why a body language expert thinks Matthew McConaughey isn't ready
"In his interview with Jimmy Fallon, his body language leans more toward a 'no' than a 'yes,'" Henderson, who is a body language expert at Moving Image Consulting LLC, told The List. Did you notice how Matthew McConaughey "immediately looks down" after Fallon asked about his political intentions? He was "distracting himself with moving things or touching things off screen," Henderson noted. Those were ploys to buy time.
Pay close attention to what McConaughey did when he started speaking. When the actor insisted his answer wasn't "a dodge," he looked "down and to the right rather than at Jimmy." That's not the kind of eye contact that projects confidence. On the contrary, Henderson says, "This eye direction is usually regarded as someone dealing with feeling emotions and even self doubt." The way that the actor simultaneously fidgets in his chair? That's an indication that McConaughey "doesn't want to answer and express his feelings or perhaps he doesn't want to disappoint with a 'no' — especially before his benefit concert," Henderson told The List.
Per Henderson, McConaughey may even have lied to Fallon intentionally. Notice when Matthew McConaughey said, "what an honorable thing to be able to consider" in reference to a potential run, he touched his nose. That's "often considered an indication of deception or doubt," Henderson warned. Remember when former President Clinton said he "didn't have sex with that woman"? He did the same thing.