Matthew McConaughey has shown a different side to himself as an actor in Killer Joe according to director William Friedkin.
The actor takes on the role of a hitman in the new thriller, a performance that is being called one of the best of his career.
And Friedkin says that McConaughy just needed a juicy role to get his teeth into to be able to show what he can do.
Speaking to the Press Association the filmmaker said: "Well he isn't the guy in these romantic comedies. He's more like Killer Joe.
"The reason he did How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days and about 20 other films like it was because he's a very good looking guy and in Hollywood if you're a good looking woman or guy you get cast that way. They don't want you to act. They want you to just show up and be good looking."
"Julia Roberts doesn't have to act but she's capable of acting if she gets a decent role. That's true of McConaughey."
Killer Joe kicks off a busy second half of 2012 for the actor as he will also be starring alongside Channing Tatum in Steven Soderbergh's new film Magic Mike.
Killer Joe is out now
Magic Mike is released 11th July.
Tagged in Matthew McConaughey Killer Joe William Friedkin