Billy Bob Thornton Reveals the Real Reason Behind His Divorce from Angelina Jolie After 20 Years
Billy Bob Thornton has always been a captivating figure in Hollywood, known for his raw talent, eccentric personality, and turbulent love life. Among his six marriages, his whirlwind romance and marriage to Angelina Jolie garnered the most attention.
At the peak of their careers, their peculiar relationship fascinated the public, but it lasted only three years. Now, 20 years later, Thornton has opened up about the real reason behind their split.
Early Life and Career
Born on August 4, 1955, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Billy Bob Thornton grew up in humble beginnings. Raised in a shack without electricity or plumbing, his early life was far from glamorous. Despite struggling with dyslexia, he excelled in sports, particularly baseball, but an injury ended his aspirations of a professional career. He briefly attended Henderson State University but left to pursue his dreams in Hollywood during the 1980s.
Thornton struggled initially, working as a telemarketer and waiter, but advice from screenwriter Billy Wilder steered him toward screenwriting. His big break came in 1992 with One False Move, which he co-wrote and starred in. This led to his 1996 masterpiece, Sling Blade, earning him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and cementing his status as a Hollywood heavyweight.
Marriage to Angelina Jolie
Thornton and Jolie’s romance was as unexpected as it was intense. They married in 2000 and quickly became known for their passionate and unconventional relationship. The media buzzed about their public displays of affection and unique symbols of love, like wearing vials of each other’s blood around their necks.
Despite their apparent bond, the marriage ended in 2003. Thornton recently admitted that their relationship faltered due to their vastly different lifestyles. While Jolie was drawn to humanitarian work and globe-trotting adventures, Thornton preferred a quieter, more reclusive life. “She had a more outward lifestyle, and I’m more introverted,” he confessed. This fundamental difference created a rift that neither could bridge.
Thornton also revealed he felt out of place in Jolie’s world, describing himself as “not good enough” for the actress, who was rapidly rising as a global icon. These insecurities and lifestyle clashes eventually led to their amicable separation.
Life After Jolie
After their divorce, both Thornton and Jolie moved on. Thornton found love with Connie Angland, whom he married in 2014 after more than a decade together. They share a daughter, Bella. Thornton has continued to thrive in Hollywood, earning accolades for roles in films and TV series like Fargo.
Jolie, meanwhile, became a UN Goodwill Ambassador, adopted children, and later married Brad Pitt, though that union also ended in divorce.
Despite their split, Thornton holds no ill will toward Jolie. He described her as an “amazing person” and reflected fondly on their time together, stating, “We just had different paths in life.”
Conclusion
Billy Bob Thornton’s candid revelation about his divorce from Angelina Jolie sheds light on the complexities of their high-profile marriage. Their story is a testament to how even the most passionate relationships can falter when lifestyles and priorities clash. Today, both stars continue to excel in their respective paths, proving that some love stories are meant to be cherished as memories.
