Matthew McConaughey Congratulates Wife Camila Alves On Becoming a US Citizen

— -- Matthew McConaughey's wife, Camila Alves, has become a U.S. citizen, she announced on Twitter.

"Happy to say I now hold an American passport! I have so much respect and appreciation for this country. #newuscitizen," she wrote.

"Congratulations Camila on getting your U.S. citizenship today," added McConaughey. "Another fellow and great American."

Both McConaughey, 45, and Alves, 34, also shared a photo featuring their three children Levi, 7, Vida, 5, and Livingston, 3.

Alves, who wed McConaughey in 2012, originally hails from Brazil. According to a People magazine article from 2008, she came to the U.S. at 15 to visit family and stayed to attend school and pursue a career in modeling.

"The minute I got off the plane I looked at my mother and said, 'I don't think I'm going back,'" she said. "I didn't speak any English, and I didn't have any money. I left everything I knew."

The couple now lives in McConaughey's hometown of Austin.