Stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto on the red carpet at Mayfair premiere of Dallas Buyers Club

 
Jared Leto attending the premiere of Dallas Buyers Club, at the Washington hotel in Mayfair, London.
30 January 2014
The Weekender

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Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey enjoys visiting Speakers' Corner when in London, he said as he took to the red carpet.

Speaking at the Mayfair premiere of the film Dallas Buyers Club he explained that although his visits to the capital are often fleeting, he also likes taking his children to "see London's sights".

Dallas Buyers Club Mayfair moments

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The actor, 44, was at the Curzon Mayfair with wife Camilla Alves for the film's UK premiere. It tells the story of Aids victim Ron Woodroof who smuggled medication into the US and set up a 'buyers club' for others.

Woodroof is portrayed by McConaughey as homophobic and straight in the film, which has been nominated for a best picture Oscar.

Speaking of his dramatic weight loss for the movie, which was filmed for under $5 million in just 25 days, he said: "I was 38 pounds down and we were told the funding wasn't there. But I had got that far and said we are making this film!"

The tight turn-around meant there was no time to mess about on set. "Jared and I didn't have the urge to make small talk and nor did we have the time," insisted McConaughey.

Co-star Jared Leto said it was great to bring the film to London - which he described as "one of the best cities in the world".

He described the filming process as "fast, furious, exciting - once in a lifetime" and confessed that it is the only script he has read in the past six years.

He said: "I haven't read one since. I ignored the email with the [Dallas Buyers Club] script in it at first but then someone was tenacious enough to keep chasing me to read it."

Star turn: Actor Matthew McConaughey in Mayfair tonight
Actor Matthew McConaughey arrives at Dallas Buyers Club UK Premiere at Curzon Mayfair, on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2014, in London. (Photo by Jon Furniss Photography/Invision/AP Images)
Jared Leto attending the premiere of Dallas Buyers Club, at the Washington hotel in Mayfair, London.

The 30 Seconds to Mars lead singer had to wear heels for his role as Rayon, an HIV-positive transgender woman.

He said: "The heels were fine, I know what I'm doing with them. But tights are really difficult to wear. I have tattoos on my legs so I had to wear two pairs to cover them up and they cut off my circulation. They aren't comfortable, I don't miss them at all."

When it was suggested he looked good as a woman, he said: "I would debate whether I looked as hot as a woman. I didn't get too many numbers."

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