(Credit: Netflix)

Many things define an actor – dedication, grit, and, of course, skills. But only a few can continue reinventing themselves as Tinseltown evolves each passing day. Matthew McConaughey’s Hollywood tenure is a showbiz highlight on its own.

But there’s something irresistibly nostalgic about a blast from the past, like his resurfaced audition for Dazed and Confused.

The 1993 coming-of-age drama was a turning point for the young actor. He found a creative comrade in Richard Linklater, and his journey to become an Oscar winner began in earnest.

It’s easy to see how he gained the part in the first place. The actor glides into the audition with his usual casualness and delivers lines with the laconic brilliance of a performer with far more credits than he possessed at the time.

While he doesn’t iterate the same in the audition tape, it lives rent-free in every head. In the clip, McConaughey shares a few scenes with Wiley Wiggins, who had reportedly already been cast in the cult classic by then. Although you may not find McConaughey saying out loud his super-famous line, he does say another one that’s equally unforgettable.

“That’s what I love about these high school girls, man. I keep getting older, they stay the same age,” the actor says from Dazed and Confused. To celebrate the Criterion Collection’s DVD release of Dazed and Confused, this audition tape was unveiled.

For those unaware, the 1993 film captures the kaleidoscopic chaos of the last day of school in 1976 Austin, Texas. The movie doesn’t follow any traditional paths; instead, it plods heavily into the airwaves without a steady narrative or a way forward.

The film offers a nuanced snapshot of adolescence with a keen eye for detail. While Dazed and Confused features an ensemble cast, McConaughey’s delivery is particularly memorable as a 20-something adult who refuses to let go of his youth. So, those who want to catch up on this 1990s gem can currently stream it on Netflix US.