Matthew McConaughey reveals bedroom secret that helps sustain his 13-year marriage to Camila Alves

Matthew McConaughey says the secret to his 13-year marriage to Camila Alves lies in a simple bedroom adjustment. In his new book Poems & Prayers, released Sept. 16, the Oscar-winning actor describes downsizing from a king-size mattress to a queen-size bed as a practical step to stay connected as their family grew. The couple, who wed in 2012, share three children — Levi, 17; Vida, 15; and Livingston, 12 — and McConaughey ties the intimate change to maintaining closeness amid the bustle of fatherhood and fame.

McConaughey recounts how the family’s growing brood sometimes crowded the bed, with all three children sharing space at times. He writes that the shift to a smaller bed helped keep the couple within arm’s reach at night, a simple adjustment that allowed them to preserve intimacy even when the house felt full. He describes the moment of realization when he noticed how far apart his wife had drifted in bed and how the solution was to reclaim space for the two of them. The change, he suggests, has kept their marriage aligned even as their lives have moved in multiple directions.

McConaughey first met Alves in 2006 at a West Hollywood nightclub, and their romance soon followed. Five years later, he proposed on Christmas Day in a moment he has described in interviews, including with People, as a carefully staged surprise: the ring presented as a gift that required unwrapping. The couple wed the next year, in June 2012, in Austin, Texas, in a ceremony that drew a discreet circle of celebrity guests, including Reese Witherspoon and Woody Harrelson. The marriage has often been highlighted by public appearances and shared family moments, underscoring a partnership that has endured under intense professional scrutiny.

Outside of their personal life, McConaughey has spoken about the growth that parenthood has brought to his craft. He has said that having children makes him a better storyteller and that the questions they pose offer fresh perspectives on the world around him. He notes that observing life through a child’s eyes helps him approach roles with heightened curiosity and empathy, a sentiment he has shared in various interviews over the years.

In earlier public remarks, McConaughey has offered pragmatic pointers for sustaining a long marriage. He has described an approach to relationships that emphasizes not letting things drift and instead maintaining momentum, similar to catching “green lights” in life and in love. Those reflections echo the broader theme he has pursued across his work: balance, growth, and staying connected to one’s core values even as life evolves.

The actor’s latest project, Poems & Prayers, is described by publishers as a faith-filled volume that blends personal poetry with prayers, offering reflections on navigating life’s rodeo and pursuing a sense of purpose. The book follows his 2020 memoir Greenlights, in which he chronicled experiences that shaped his worldview and storytelling. In conversations surrounding the book, McConaughey has framed poetry and prayer as outlets that provide grounding when external circumstances seem uncertain, a stance that resonates with fans seeking meaning amid rapid cultural change.

McConaughey and Alves have continued to present themselves as a unified front on the public stage. In April, the couple appeared with all three of their children at the Mack, Jack and McConaughey Gala in Austin, a family moment that underscored the blending of personal and public life that characterizes their years together. Their shared appearances, along with their quiet advocacy for family resilience, have become a defining aspect of their public narrative as they navigate careers in film, philanthropy, and literature.

In reflecting on his broader creative arc, McConaughey has discussed how shifting his focus toward poetry and prayer in Poems & Prayers complements his previous writing, including the success of Greenlights. He has described the volume as an exploration of ideals that may not always align with outward reality but can help readers find grounding in the midst of life’s uncertainties. The book’s release contributes to a wider conversation about how contemporary artists integrate personal faith, family life, and career under the spotlight of a modern era that often blurs the lines between private and public spheres.

As McConaughey and Alves move through this phase of their lives, the central theme remains clear: a partnership built on honest communication, shared routines, and a willingness to adapt when family needs shift. The queen-size bed, a straightforward physical change, has become a symbolic touchstone for a marriage that has endured many chapters. Through public appearances, the storytelling of his own life, and a forthcoming collection that emphasizes faith and reflection, McConaughey continues to shape a narrative about balance, growth, and the enduring power of connection within a bustling life in culture and entertainment.