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Matthew McConaughey defends pal Lance Armstrong: 'He told a lie, he's not a liar'

Matthew McConaughey is defending his longtime pal Lance Armstrong. “He told a lie, he’s not a liar,” the “Magic Mike” star told Details for an interview in their April 2013 issue.VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood’s Hottest Beach Bodies — The Guys!McConaughey did suggest he was hurt by Armstrong's admission earlier this year that the cyclist was involved in doping, but all is forgiven.
Actor Matthew McConaughey, left, and cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Actor Matthew McConaughey, left, and cyclist Lance Armstrong.AP, Getty Images / Today

Matthew McConaughey is defending his longtime pal Lance Armstrong. “He told a lie, he’s not a liar,” the “Magic Mike” star told Details for an interview in their April 2013 issue.

Actor Matthew McConaughey, left, and cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Actor Matthew McConaughey, left, and cyclist Lance Armstrong.AP, Getty Images / Today

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McConaughey did suggest he was hurt by Armstrong's admission earlier this year that the cyclist was involved in doping, but all is forgiven.

“When it came out, I took it personally, but then I realized it ain’t personal to him. I was going, ‘That son of a b----!’ but then I thought, ‘Well, what was he supposed to do? Call me to the side and go, ‘Hey, I did this’?” Matthew recounted. “But I’m happy for him now, because despite all this outside conflict, he doesn’t have this inner conflict anymore.”

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McConaughey also opened up about his life and career in the new interview, discussing the idea of being selfish, according to Details.

“I’m just as thankful now as I ever was, but I’m choosing to be more selfish. I remember feeling not sure about what I wanted to do and feeling -- I’m not sure despondent is the right word, but a feeling like things are plateauing,” the told the mag. “I wanted more evolution. I want to feel ascension in the grade. Because I was feeling a lot of ascension in my personal life, qualitative evolution. I wanted to close the gap between who I am and the life I’m living and my work life. So I think I got really selfish. You start a family and you get selfish.”

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Not selfish for his time is McConaughey’s wife, Camila McConaughey.

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“I’ve got a wife who challenges me,” he said. “There were two movies I wanted to do last year, but they were back-to-back with no separation. She was like, ‘You want to do it -- buck up, grab your nuts, and make it happen. We’ll be there with you.’”