FOR HIS ART. Matthew McConaughey is a shadow of his old self for his movie role. Image from Facebook

MANILA, Philippines - Gone are the lean bod and muscular physique for now.

Matthew McConaughey has lost and is still losing weight for a new role in the movie The Dallas Buyer's Club, according to US Weekly.

The movie is about the real-life story of Ron Woodruff, an electrician and drug addict who was diagnosed with HIV in 1986.

He became one of the first AIDS activists who launched his own support group.

In August, McConaughey was already being described as "scary thin." He has reportedy dropped 30 pounds for the role by eating small amounts of protein-rich, low-carb food.

He was last seen as a buff stripper in July in the movie Magic Mike with Channing Tatum.

The 42-year-old actor was photographed on November 9 at the Los Angeles International Airport before a flight to New Orleans. US Weekly described him as "downright skeletal."

SCARY SKELETAL. A screen shot of the US Weekly story on McConaughey posted November 10

"I'm playing a guy who was sick and would have loved to have been healthier but wasn't," McConaughey told US Weekly. "For me, it's more of a mental thing than a physical thing."

"I'll get down to the weight I need to get to," he added.

"I'm on my way, and it's what I need to do for the job."

Jennifer Garner and Jared Leto co-star with McConaughey in The Dallas Buyer's Club. - Rappler.com