Hollywood heartthrob Matthew McConaughey says he is feeling "positive" about Oscars glory as his new film Dallas Buyers Club premiered in the UK.

McConaughey, 44, who has already won several accolades including Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards, is up against the UK's Chiwetel Ejiofor, amongst others, for the Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of HIV-positive cowboy Ron Woodroof, with his co-star Jared Leto receiving a nod for Best Supporting Actor.

The real-life drama, which was directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, has been nominated in four other categories, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

"This whole (awards) season feels good. I'm positive and looking forward to the Oscars," McConaughey said at the premiere at the Washington Hotel in London.

Leto, who portrays transgendered Aids patient Rayon in his first role following a six-year hiatus, admitted all the support and success had been overwhelming. "I've already had enough love. I'm assuming the Academy is not going to show me any love because I've been spoilt," he said.

"After 20 years of making films, I'm getting some of this incredible recognition and I feel like it's surreal, it's beautiful. I'm grateful and I've no right to expect anything at all."

The 42-year-old, also known for being the frontman of rock group 30 Seconds To Mars, says he has been taken aback by some of the feedback about his performance in the film.

"There are so many people who have been so kind that you start forgetting who has come up to you. You don't ever want to forget, from Bruce Dern to Meryl Streep," Leto recalled.

"It's been incredible. Oprah Winfrey came up to me the other day - she said I didn't do too badly. She said nice things and was very supportive and kind about my performance. I mean, she's the queen of Hollywood!"

McConaughey admitted getting the film off the ground had been a struggle.

"As soon as I read it, I thought: 'I gotta do this'. No-one wanted to make it so I said: 'Just don't lose it. Make sure I'm still attached, don't let it go elsewhere,'" he said. "A few years later, we picked out a time to start making it, but the financing fell out five weeks before we were supposed to shoot."

"We scraped the money together the day before we shot," he added.

Dallas Buyers Club opens in cinemas on February 7.

Source: Press Release