Famous Longhorns – University of Texas Alumni | Alcalde Magazine

Chandra, it was wonderful to interview you – I really appreciate your candor and warmth. The whole time we were talking, I thought, I need to make this powerhouse of an entrepreneur my mentor. Cora Bullock – Editor – Alcalde Magazine

If you only knew what this interview meant to me. First, it was for my alma mater.

HOOK ‘EM HORNS!

Second, this magazine has a subscriber base that is HUGE (if you don’t already know this – the University of Texas has been one of the biggest schools in the country for decades, so it has produced a crapload of college grads since I graduated…uh, years ago.

The university has more than 450,000 living alumni – holy cow!

So, as you might imagine, Alcalde Magazine has plenty of amazing people they can profile. Clearly, with almost half a million people to choose from, I can’t get over that they wanted to do a feature story on me!

Let’s see, here’s another Longhorn Alum…

Okay, well everyone knows about his love for the Longhorns and anyone who lives within a 50 mile radius of Austin probably has a Matthew McConaughey story. But mine is really good…

So, Bob Michaels, back in the day, was in a band that used to bring out every former frat guy in town. That included Matt.

Like any local rock star girlfriend, you gain instant access to everything. Plus, let’s not forget, I was in all the movies made here at that time, so my popularity on the $45 day player circuit was hard to deny. True enough – there are a handful of shows that you can see me in for maybe .0126 seconds, a few, I even say a word or two. STARDOM can be such a rush.

Anyway, with my bit part movie career taking off and a kick ass guitar player by my side, we RULED.

It was my birthday – Summer of ‘96. We were celebrating at Shakespeare’s Pub with all the boys in the band when Matt comes in. He slides up next to me and I welcome him home. I ask him how he’s doing out in Hollywood and he mentions that he just wrapped on a new movie. He said that he was “stoked” about it – it was based on a John Grisham novel and he got to work with Ashley Judd (who is one of my all-time most favorite celebs ever). He tells me a bit about A Time to Kill…it premiers in a few days – and all I could think was…”Oh my GOD!!! You are about to become absolutely mega-famous!”

Pulling my friends in close, I’m like…”seriously, you guys…listen, his life is about to change!” My friend Mark Chandler says…”let’s get drinks and toast to that.” And Matt yells, “I’m buying!”

“Bartender – Shirley Temples for everyone!”

Applause, applause, clink, clink! Hurray! And then a really drunk guy comes up and slurs, “Dude – aren’t you the dude from Dazed and Confused?” I looked at Matt and said, “See? It’s just the beginning…”

Right now, if you are thinking…Oh hurl! She’s just calling him Matt to try and show she’s so freakin’ cool. And then I think, if that’s how you really feel, then wait until you read about my good friend, John. John Corbett. You know, Aidan from Sex in the City. Yeah, that’s right!

I guess a lot can happen in a decade…

I, obviously, chose another path. Acting, although I feel it in me bones (yes, I’m Irish), could not have been a viable career unless I made the full-on move to California. Alas, I decided to make pretty pictures for a living.

Racking my brain to give you an example of another Hollywood Longhorn, I can’t think of anyone else right now but Renee Zellweger. I don’t have a fun Renee story, so never mind her.

I decide to Google for famous longhorn alumni from the University of Texas.

And check this out!

Look what comes up FIRST – number 1 out of 7,390 results – Chandra Michaels! Chandra Michaels and Sugarluxe…No way – take that Renee!

Well, I’ve never won an Oscar and I’m far less squinty, but I am still gracing the pages of the same magazine that touts such all-star alum and that makes me really happy!

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