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Matt LeBlanc: I act for money


Matt LeBlanc has admitted he has always only been in the acting business for the money.
The 50-year-old 'Friends' star played Joey in the hit American sitcom for 10 years until 2004 and his most recent role was in comedy show 'Episodes', which ran for five series.
LeBlanc is honest that his motivation to work is to get paid and he is happy to act in anything as long as the pay is good.
He told The Times newspaper: It's just a job. I just turn up, do it and then I'm off. The pay cheque is probably the most important part."
LeBlanc - who can currently be seen on the small screen as the main host of BBC motoring show 'Top Gear' - worked as a carpenter before he got into the acting industry and was down to his last $11 when he was offered the role of Joey Tribbiani in 'Friends'.
LeBlanc - who eventually went on to earn $1 million per episode of friends with his main co-stars - said: "That's actually true. I screwed up. I should have got a real job months and months prior to that because $11 is not going to get you very far. The rent was paid for that month, but the next month? I don't know. I always had this attitude that I'd do all right. I never wanted to be the biggest actor in the world, I just wanted to keep the bills paid. And then 'Friends' came along."
When 'Friends' ended Matt starred in spin-off show 'Joey' for two years, but when it was cancelled he quit the spotlight and ended up taking six years off.
He said: "I was going through a divorce, I had a new baby, my daughter was diagnosed with some health issues - she's OK now - and it was a rough time. Work wasn't a priority. I realised the most important thing in life is your family so I hit the reset button, focused on the things that were really important and got through it."
Matt's daughter Marina, by his model ex-wife Melissa McKnight, is now 13 and lives in California while he lives in London and is dating 'Top Gear' producer Aurora Mulligan.
LeBlanc insists his motivation to keep working is to provide for his daughter.
He said: "All people who work juggle. There's that balance. You want to provide for them, give them a nice life, more than what you think they need, so that when you're gone they'll have something if they f*** it all up."