Renowned actress Judy Greer recently reminisced about an embarrassing yet heartwarming encounter with Matthew McConaughey, who once covered her valet expenses during a financially tight period in her life.

The 50-year-old actress – who starred alongside McConaughey in the 2001 rom-com The Wedding Planner – opened up about the actor’s kind gesture during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. 

The film, featuring Jennifer Lopez in a prominent role, went on to gross nearly $95 million at the box office, marking a significant success 25 years ago.

“What I truly remember about that film is Matthew McConaughey’s kindness,” Greer shared with the publication.

She recounted that prior to shooting, there was a table read at New York City’s Roosevelt Hotel, where she mistakenly thought using the valet service was standard practice.

Realizing she couldn’t afford the valet fee, Greer turned to a payphone in the hotel lobby to seek help from her good friend Sean Gunn.

Hollywood star Judy Greer, 50, recalled feeling ‘mortified’ after Matthew McConaughey paid her valet because she had been ‘so broke’ at the time

The movie had additionally cast Jennifer Lopez in one of the leading roles, with the project raking in nearly $95 million at the box office upon its release in theaters 25 years earlier

McConaughey, overhearing her predicament, generously offered her $20. “I was incredibly embarrassed but also felt like he was my hero!” Greer exclaimed.

Greer added that she ‘loved seeing him in hair and makeup every morning because he had, like, pajamas on and a Yerba Mate.’  

She jokingly continued, ‘I haven’t worked with him since but I have a feeling not much has changed.’ 

Greer had portrayed Lopez’s assistant named Penny in The Wedding Planner and called the character ‘great’ while talking to Us Weekly back in 2021. 

‘It was a big deal when I got that part,’ the star further expressed to the publication. 

‘And I think I was the first person to audition for the role and they saw so many people and they gave it to me. They just circled back. And it was so meaningful at the time.’ 

She also recalled how the director Adam Shankman had given the actors on set the opportunity to do improv when it came to their lines. 

‘So many of my lines in that movie were my own improv and it just felt [great] as a young actress to be given that kind of trust.’

She remembered not having enough money to pay the valet because she ‘was so broke’ and called her close friend Sean Gunn via a payphone in the hotel lobby; Greer and Gunn seen in 2023 in Hollywood 

The actress said that McConaughey had ‘overheard me and like, gave me $20. I was so mortified. But also like… my hero!’; seen in 2022 in L.A. 

‘And I think I was the first person to audition for the role and they saw so many people and they gave it to me. They just circled back. And it was so meaningful at the time,’ Greer said; seen above with McConaughey in The Wedding Planner (2001)

Greer said that the director ‘would always be like, “You have to give me one from the script and then say whatever the f*** you want. I don’t care.” And so I’m not saying anything against the screenwriters. 

‘They were amazing. But it was really nice to be able to just riff and to be trusted like that at such a young age. That was flattering.’

And during her recent conversation with Entertainment Tonight, Greer talked about how the movie is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. 

While on the topic if she would be interested in being a part of a reboot, the actress expressed that the movie still stands on its own very well. 

‘Yes, because I love it, and I think it’d be fun to see what people do with it, but also, like, it’s great. Why do we have to keep rebooting everything?’ she questioned. 

McConaughey and Lopez have also reflected on the 2001 rom-com over the years, including in a video shared to Instagram in 2021, per Today. 

Lopez and McConaughey talked about rom-coms as a genre as the On The Floor songstress said that they ‘do something for your soul’; seen above in The Wedding Planner (2001)

The pair talked about rom-coms as a genre as the On The Floor songstress said that they ‘do something for your soul.’ 

The True Detective replied, ‘We need a little lightness. We don’t get as much of it anymore but that lightness … Wedding Planner is buoyant for a reason.’

He continued, ‘You’re dancing across the clouds and it feels a little like Saturday evening every day on set. 

It feels a little like Saturday when you’re watching those movies, for the entire movie, and you don’t want to feel like Monday.’

Greer began her career in the late 90s and has appeared in a number of other movies over the years such as Jawbreaker (1999), 13 Going On 30 (2004), The Village (2004) and 27 Dresses (2008)

She has additionally ventured into a variety of genres including horror such as in Carrie (2013), Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills (2021); seen above in Halloween Kills in 2021 

Greer began her career in the late 90s and has appeared in a number of other movies over the years such as Jawbreaker (1999), 13 Going On 30 (2004), The Village (2004) and 27 Dresses (2008). 

She has additionally ventured into a variety of genres including horror such as in Carrie (2013), Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills (2021). 

The actress also made appearances in Marvel films including Ant-Man (2015) and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). 

Greer recently reunited with her 13 Going On 30 castmate Jennifer Garner in season two of the Apple TV+ series The Last Thing He Told Me.