Camila Alves On Early Challenges With Matthew McConaughey's Mother: 'She Was Really Testing Me'

Love stories are often portrayed as fairy tales, but real-life relationships can sometimes be a bit more complicated. Such is the case with Camila Alves and her journey to win the heart of her now-husband Matthew McConaughey's mother.

While the couple's bond has been strong for years, Alves disclosed that the path to acceptance was not always an easy one for her, as McConaughey's mother, Mary McCabe, gave her a tough time before finally accepting her.

Keep on reading to learn more.

Camila Alves recently shared that her mother-in-law, Mary McCabe, seemingly held reservations about her and was initially apprehensive about her son's relationship with the model. Alves revealed during her appearance on the "Southern Living's Biscuits & Jam" podcast that McConaughey's mom subjected her to a tough time in their relationship when she first "came into the picture."

"She did all these things when I first came in the picture, right? She was really testing me," Alves said. "I mean, really testing me."

"She would call me by all of Matthew's ex-girlfriends' names, she would start speaking Spanish with me in a very broken way, kind of putting [me] down a bit. I mean, all kinds of stuff," she added.

Alves' journey to acceptance was marked by patience, understanding, and a genuine commitment to bridging the gap. She recognized the importance of family in McConaughey's life and understood that gaining McCabe's approval was a crucial step in solidifying their relationship, but not after she realized McCabe was "full of s*it."

In the interview, she shared a pivotal moment that helped bridge the gap between her and her now mother-in-law. She disclosed that her efforts to win over the approval of McConaughey's mother culminated in success when she extended an invitation to McCabe to accompany her on a business trip to Istanbul. The trip, intended to showcase her professional life, provided a unique opportunity for them to bond, albeit in a very strange way.

"The whole way there, the whole plane ride to Istanbul, she was telling me all these stories and putting all these things in my head," Alves shared. "So I just flipped it on her and brought my spicy Brazilian, Latin side, and I let her have it."

She added, "So I went back at her, and we had it back and forth, back and forth. And then at the end, she just looked at me and she was like, 'OK. Now you're in.'"

Alves went on to reveal that she and McConaughey's mother now have a close and supportive relationship—a bond that wasn't always as strong. She noted that all the 91-year-old matriarch wanted when she made their relationship challenging was for her to "fight back."

"All she wanted was for me to fight back," she shared. "And then from that day on, that night on, we have the most amazing relationship, and I have so much respect for her. She has so much respect for me."

Alves revealed in an Instagram post last month that she missed the Paris Fashion Week to help McCabe dye her hair, noting that "family duties" come first for her.

"Not at fashion week … but things are pretty exciting and fashionable here! Family duties first … Lord don't let her hair fall off. no pressure!!" she captioned the photo of her applying dye to McCabe's hair.

In her appearance on the podcast, the 41-year-old model and entrepreneur opened up about her husband's public persona and how it contrasts with his true personality, per People. Contrary to the widely held belief that McConaughey is the epitome of a "getting high, laid-back" personality, Alves revealed a more collected and nuanced side of her husband, which she compared to that of his mom.

The actor, known for his roles in "Interstellar," has long been associated with a laid-back and carefree image, often portrayed as a perpetually chill individual. However, his wife challenged this perception, stating, "When we first start dating, it was this image of Matthew of getting high, laid back, no shirt, whatever. Which I'm like, 'The guy doesn't even smoke. What is this vision coming from?'"

"He's actually the opposite, and he's like his mom," Alves added. "She's very organized, very minimalistic, very on time, very prepared, and he gets a lot of those traits from her."