Billy Bob Thornton pops up every few years because he’s mentioned his ex-wife Angelina Jolie in an interview. It’s a bit painful, because BBT actually is a great actor and writer and he deserves to be discussed on his own, for his work. But that just doesn’t happen – he really only makes headlines when he’s talking about Angelina. BBT did a podcast interview with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s In Conversation. He got the question about his 2001-03 marriage to Angelina. Some quotes:
What he thinks about his marriage to Jolie now: “I look at that time as a great time. Angie is still a friend of mine and she’s a great person and she’s done so much. She makes movies that are important to her whether they succeed or fail, she still does what she believes in and I’ll always respect her for that.”
The craziness around their marriage: “A lot of the things they said about us at the time were exaggerated. It wasn’t as crazy as people wrote about it.”
The vial-of-blood necklaces: “The necklaces were a very simple thing, ‘Hey let’s poke our fingers with a pen and smear a little blood on there and when we’re away from each other we’ll wear the necklace.’ It was that easy. But by the time it came out in the press it sounded like we were wearing a bucket of blood around our necks.”
Why they split: “We just had different lifestyles. Hers is a global lifestyle and mine is an agoraphobic lifestyle. So that’s really, that’s the only reason we’re probably not still together, maybe. There was a different path in life we wanted to take.”
He’s clarified all this before – they never wore “vials of blood” as necklaces. They grew apart pretty organically as Jolie changed and “grew up” and became exposed to the work of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees. She adopted Maddox, and it seemed like BBT wasn’t all that interested. In general though, it doesn’t seem like they ever hated each other. They just grew apart, and they still check in with each other and like each other. Just my opinion: for Angelina, I think “the one who got away” was always Jonny Lee Miller, her first husband. They were too young when they met, but if she found a guy like JLM right now, I bet she would fall hard for him.
PS… I will NEVER get over her horrid eyebrow situation in these photos.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.
I was happy to read this, that they are still friendly and he speaks well of her. There was an age difference and they sound like very different people.
And, hoo boy, yes those eyebrows are bad.
I find it cool (nice? interesting?) that she has remained friendly with her exes.
I hope one day, for their kids sake, she has the same kind of relationship with Pitt. though I don’t think her previous break ups were this…uh…contentious.
Yes, but the six kids make all the difference!
I’m with you though, I hope for the sake of their six kids, Angie and Brad can come to an amicable agreement and one day be cordial, if not friendly again.
Evie, yes, kids def add a different dynamic to the situation.
I met her once, EONS ago… she was having lunch with JLM and two others at The (now long-gone) Stage Deli in the Century City Mall. I remember thinking “Gorgeous.. but wow.. HUGE chapped, dry lips” lol. HE was really cute (but a BIG forehead).
It’s always nice to be able to have a good relationship with exes. I’ve only managed that with one of mine lol.
the eye brows and the white foundation..yikes.
Thank god she grew out of that…
It’s strange, I don’t remember her a having horrible brows. Not that she was the second coming of Sherilyn Fenn in my mind but I remembered them decenent. Not true, as it turns out.
I didn’t remember those brows either! But they were very much of that time so that’s why I probably didn’t register them as not so good.
That was a notable, one-time red carpet look from what I recall. Or an occasional look anyway. Not everyday.
She looked perfect even with those eyebrows.
I’m not saying she’s not a beauty now, but darn, she was insanely beautiful during her late 20s and early 30s.
I completely agree that JLM was “the one who got away.”
BBT was a phase.
Brad is/was a man child who needs a full time carer, IMO.
AJ did the heavy lifting in that relationship, 6 kids + Brad.
She wore rubber pants and a shirt with his name in her blood for the wedding to JLM. Not judging, just saying.
All of Angelina’s exes only speak good about her and are still close friends. In fact, Johnny and his wife are very close with Angelina still.
And for those people who accuse Angelina of parent alienation – BBT’s first wife came out in public to say that Laura Dern never once met BBT’s children but Angelina encouraged him to have a relationship with them or he ever regret it later in life. The ex wife actually thanked Angelina for making sure the children had a father in their lives.
That’s the kind of person Angelina is so please cut the bs about her supposedly alienating the children from Brad.
And also – BBT clarifying the necklace thing won’t stop the haters screaming she wore blood and is a weirdo etc. Her haters simple don’t care about facts.
Dude did you see the actual document? She’s not alienating them at all, he’s just a big old abuser and it’s sad
I feel like people also miss the fact that AJ grew up with an absent father. I feel like she knows what its like to have a parent bail, or worse, disappoint you in a profound way. I don’t think that she’s getting a lot of comfort out of the fact that Brad Pitt let his children down.
2 wackadoodles.
They were in love.
People fear difference.
I like BBT, and I wish we heard more about him on his own merits too. I actually liked them together, but what he says makes sense. I’m glad they’re still friendly. I hope she and BP can get there, if only for the kids.
Those eyebrows are giving me life, haha! I’m here for the old-school Angelina and BBT looks.
“She makes movies that are important to her whether they succeed or fail…”
Love the subtle shade, whether intentional or not.
I don’t see it as shade, sounds more like praise. She has the guts to make the movies she wants even if they won’t make her money, not many directors would do that
I didn’t see it as shade either. BBT has been around long enough to have hits and misses, too…he knows the business.
It’s not shade to say that commercial success is not important to her.
That old photo of Angelina reminds me – Vivienne looks so much like her mama.
Wasn’t he accused by several ex wives of spousal abuse?
YES! He’s a gross person who has said some racially problematic stuff in the past and is a conservative so hard PASS on this creep. 5 short marriages say a lot about someone coupled with the cheating and abuse charges. There are also rumors about his weird eating habits and drugs. I do not see what she likes in this 62 year old mess of a man.
The day she left him was when I started to like her. JLM though. I like.
He also stated on a CBC radio talk show that “Canadians were as boring as mashed potatoes without the gravy.” His band, which he described as cosmic cowboy music, was here to open for Willie Nelson when he made the comment the day before the concert.
@magnoliarose are you confusing BBT with someone else?
Because aside from being an Oscar winning screenwriter and Oscar nominated actor, he’s a man known for focusing on marginalized people in society. What did he say that was “racist?” He was married to Cynda Williams, African American actress and his lead in the film he wrote ‘One False Move,’ also starring Bill Paxton, amazing film. He also starred as Halle Berry’s lead and love interest in Monster’s Ball, a film once again that says profound things about race and class. Add in Slingblade, Billys screenplay and starring role which focused on a disabled man and cruelty and the human condition.
I would have described BBT as the opposite of a racist, or at least striving to be. Unlike Bullock and her ex who collected Nazi stuff, no way would Angelina have been attracted to a racist person, nor would she have tolerated someone who liked Nazi memorabilia crap like Sandra did.
That said, I’ve never once heard that Thornton was Republican, it seems like I would have heard about him being lumped in with Republicans like Bruce Willis, Tim Allen or Clint Eastwood if that was accurate. I can’t even say I’ve heard or read him talk politics. So I call bs on this too. I think you’re hella mistaken.
As for him being a mess. Well many of us are. I don’t hold his liking orange foods or being scared of antiques against him. He’s a very appealing guy- supersmart charismatic people often are. Halle even said she didn’t ‘get’ Billy’s appeal before she met him, but once she had, she absolutely positively got it. I think he’s attractive, funny and brilliant. So did Angie, Halle, Laura Dern and Tea Leoni.
@June
Being married to a person of color doesn’t mean anything as far as their opinions about people of color in general. There is a long history of white men having relationships with beautiful women of color and still having racist views throughout history. However, I don’t equate him to SB’s ex at all. THAT would be extremely unfair and I don’t think he is a Nazi but I do remember he said some insensitive things in the past. Out of context perhaps? That can happen so I can accept that. Especially given the rumors and comments were well over a decade ago.
I know he is conservative from his interviews but I believe he is a Libertarian, not a right wing religious racist nutjob. Libertarianism though is inherently detrimental to people who aren’t of the highest privileged group like white hetero men who aren’t minorities in any way. That being said his treatment of women is a problem and I think AJ is waaay out of his league.
Billy Bob and Angelina will never make sense to me, but she seems to genuinely like him and speaks very fondly of him still. I think he was what she needed at that time in her life as she’s spoken about how he helped her and how much she learnt from him as a person and an artist. Billy also has his share of demons, so that may have been something else to bond them. It is sad he rarely makes headlines due to his work as he’s had a great career. Jonny Lee Miller forever. Love that man, and I do think he’s the one that got away. How I wish she’d picked him in 2004. Glad they’ve remained friends. I too think if they met now she would fall hard for him. Jonny is great and Michele is one lucky lady, I’m glad he found his happy.
Sorry to say this but one divorce understandable. Everyone makes mistakes. 3 divorces means you do not make good choices. U need to be alone and be your own person.
Yeah, she is not as perfect as she tries to come off. She is a hot mess rich lady
BBT had been married 5 times and is currently married to his 6th wife. Where’s the criticism?
BBT is also a disaster. So is Gary Oldman. JLo They obviously all have problems.
We’re attacking Angelina now? Over this douche?
We r not attacking Angelina, just her decision to marry douches. And all the rest of the stars with 3+ marriages.
I would agree if the marriages took place well into adulthood, but Angelina had been married twice by the age of 24. I don’t really count her first marriage against her, although it was probably her most solid relationship. She obviously put off marriage with Brad for a long time. I think their wedding was mostly just a last ditch effort to save the relationship. I doubt she’ll get married again.
She didn’t jump into any of her marriages though. She met JLM in 1994 (married ’96) and met Billy in 1998 (married ’00). So she knew both husbands for two years before taking the plunge.
She separated from Jonny in 1997. When she first met Billy she was dating Timothy Hutton & Jenny Shimizu simultaneously.
Karen, does it include old Hollywood stars like Elizabeth Taylor or Richard Burton? She had 8 marriages and he had 5 I think.
Depends on what you define as “well into adulthood.” Elizabeth Taylor was engaged three times by age 17 and married twice by age 19. She had eight marriages but only the last three took place when she was over 30.
I think it’s ridiculous that Angelina didn’t marry Brad until long after they had kids together. But most people today aren’t getting married, period. Just the times we live in. In the next century marriage will probably be extinct.
Depends how you define “well into adulthood.” Elizabeth Taylor was engaged three times by age 17 and married twice by age 19. She had eight marriages total, but only the last three took place after age 30.
I think it’s tacky that Ang married Brad so long after they had a family. What was the point by then? If you’re going to marry the person you decide to have kids with, do it before the kids are born or don’t do it at all. Most people today aren’t married anyway. Just the times we live in. By the next century marriage will probably be extinct.
@Karen, so Angelina was married 3 times, it all didn’t work out. That’s sad. However how does it affect her acting/directing work?
Didn’t she start dating JLM again after her and Billy Bob broke up? Or were they just friends? I remember seeing pictures of Angelina with Maddox and JLM.
I think it’s what they do , they were still hanging out in 1999 long after they broke up. So around 2014 after her celibacy they were hooking up, there’s video of them making out in a tattoo parlour from May?? 2004 and pics of them out with Maddox. Though she said at the time they were just friends and she wasn’t dating anyone. Honestly I think if he were single now they’d probably be hooking up. I think it’s based primarily on friendship & her trusting him,( and because he’s awesome) and she’s said they’ll always be friends & remain close as they grew up together.
Her pearl ring is beautiful! #jewelrypr0n
They are both just so weird. And they both still look like they need some iron and vitamin c.
Being weird or different is not a bad thing. We are all different. People fear difference.
I dont think Jonny is ”The one that got away”AT ALL..Around 2004 they were both single,and pics of them with baby maddox etc,if they wanted to revisist that relationship they would have,clearly theyre best of as friends..i think the JLM/Angie is wishful thinking..
I don’t tend to like BBT much. I don’t follow him a lot, but he seems like a pretentious ass. I saw an interview with him & his band and he pouted like a little baby and refused to talk or answer questions. It was incredibly hard to watch. I like Angelina, but I’m not sure she has the best picker when it comes to men (although, honestly few do – including myself)
She’s crazy yet she’s not the one who has to be supervised around her kids. Supervised 4 hours and they go back go back to their crazy mom 🤔🤔🤔
That’s proof that she is not crazy.
AJ only has one ex husband who matters. And by that I obviously mean Jonny Lee Miller. Could we get more stories (and photos!) about him?
Life as a celebrity is hard. I could never do it. It seems draining emotionally, physically and financially. How many assistants do they need? Stylists, hairdressers, nannies, drivers, chefs, housekeepers, etc. You pay for all of them. You also have your publicists calling you up off the hook about your next gig, your image, who you associate with. You also have to look good on camera, in every angles, always look and sound happy, cheery and upbeat. Be likeable. And if you marry another celebrity, you expect the same coming from them. AND you have to have some type of talent on top of that. I mean, just thinking about it gives me a headache.
And it’s harder now than ever, as privacy is non existent and news travels the globe in milliseconds. (Honestly, I also feel bad for teens. All my stupid teen & college antics are long forgotten with no online record of them.)