Billy Bob Thornton ‘couldn’t even get a part as hillbilly’ in early career

Billy Bob Thornton talked in regards to the challenges he confronted as a Southerner attempting to make it in Hollywood in the course of the early years of his profession.

Showing alongside his ‘Countryman’ co-star Sam Elliott in a joint interview with Fox Information Digital, the 70-year-old Arkansas native shared his opinion that there was a “sure prejudice” when he first burst onto the scene in Los Angeles. Thornton recalled that he wasn’t thought of for as many roles as actors from coastal areas like New York, and defined how his experiences formed his view of the trade.

“It definitely retains you in your wheelhouse, at the least for a time period,” Thornton mentioned. “A person from the Bronx can play a person from Mississippi within the films, I’ve found through the years. However a person from Mississippi cannot actually play a person from the Bronx.”

BILLY BOB THORNTON CLAIMS THERE IS A ‘BIASION IN HOLLYWOOD’ AGAINST SOUTHERN

“There was a sure prejudice amongst Southern actors for a very long time,” he continued. “I do not know, I auditioned for a pupil movie as soon as and so they mentioned I wasn’t southern sufficient.”

‘Countryman’ star Billy Bob Thornton talked about coping with ‘bias’ as a Southern actor early in his profession. (Emerson Miller/Paramount+.)

“It was a couple of man from Alabama, proper close to the turnip truck in California,” Thornton added. “And I mentioned, ‘Properly, I am simply attending to the turnip truck from Arkansas.’ And it is like, ‘What do you imply?’ And what they have been in search of was that Foghorn Leghorn [accent]You realize, the rooster within the cartoon. That is the accent they have been going for, and I’ve by no means actually heard that earlier than. I grew up down there.”

Thornton famous that though he struggled initially, he was later in a position to get his decide of roles after he turned well-known and established himself as a bankable actor.

“That is what it’s,” he mentioned. “When you’re profitable, I can stroll into Common Studios and say I need to play Bette Davis. And so they’ll say, ‘Oh, that feels like a good suggestion.’ And after I got here up, I could not get a hillbilly position.”

WATCH: BILLY BOB THORNTON REMEMBERS HE ‘CANNOT GET ANY PART AS HILLBILLY’ DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF HIS CAREER

Initially from Scorching Springs, Arkansas, Thornton moved to Los Angeles round 1985 to pursue an appearing profession. For the primary few years he struggled to land roles and supported himself by working between auditions as a telemarketer, offshore wind farmer and quick meals supervisor.

After taking smaller roles in movies and TV collection, Thornton made his breakthrough on the age of 41 when he directed, wrote and starred within the 1996 impartial movie “Sling Blade.” The crime thriller turned a shock hit on the field workplace and obtained rave critiques from critics. Thornton gained the Academy Award for Finest Screenplay and earned an Oscar nomination for his starring position. He then earned an Academy Award nomination for Finest Supporting Actor for his efficiency within the 1998 neo-noir crime thriller “A Easy Plan.”

The “Goliath” actor has additionally obtained quite a few accolades for his work on tv, together with two Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award nomination. In 2024, he obtained a Golden Globe Award for his efficiency within the first season of ‘Landman’.

Thornton mentioned he “could not get a hillbilly position” regardless of his Arkansas roots. (Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

Created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, “Landman” is ready within the high-stakes world of contemporary Texas oil increase. Impressed by Wallace’s “Boomtown” podcast, the Paramount+ present follows a number of characters whose livelihoods rely on oil — from oil rig employees and landowners to executives and speculators. Thornton stars as Tommy Norris, a disaster supervisor who should overcome the ethical and financial stress of the power trade. The primary season premiered in November 2024, and in March the present was greenlit for a second season, which started manufacturing in Might.

Whereas talking with Fox Information Digital, Thornton mirrored on what he realized about actual oil employees from filming “Landman” in Texas and residing within the present’s world for 2 seasons.

WATCH: BILLY BOB THORNTON SHARES WHAT HE LEARNED ABOUT REAL-LIFE OILWORKS FROM THE STARRING IN ‘LANDMAN’

“I suppose I wasn’t actually conscious of it earlier than – as a result of I knew one thing in regards to the oil sector – however I knew individuals extra on the go well with aspect, you recognize, in Texas. One of many issues that stunned me was how many individuals who had damaged lives are working within the oil fields,” he defined. “There are ex-cons working there and all types of issues, as a result of they will make between $120,000 and $180,000 a yr to supply for his or her households as they attempt to get their lives collectively.”

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Thornton additionally mirrored on what he has realized about actual oil employees. (Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

“And so they could not make that form of cash wherever else,” Thornton added. “So they’re keen to danger their lives and limbs to help their households.”

Lots of the present’s solid members, together with Demi Moore, Ali Larter, Andy Garcia, Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, Mark Collie and James Jordan, are returning for the second season.

In April, Paramount introduced that Elliott had joined the present in a recurring position. The 81-year-old actor will play TL, the daddy of Thornton’s character. Elliott beforehand starred in Sheridan’s critically acclaimed “Yellowstone” prequel collection “1883,” which aired from 2021 to 2022. Within the Western saga, Elliott performed Shea Brennan, a former Pinkerton agent and Civil Conflict veteran who leads a gaggle of settlers west on the Oregon Path.

Sam Elliott joined the present’s solid for season 2. (Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

The “Tombstone” star instructed Fox Information Digital that he jumped on the probability to work with Sheridan once more when he was provided the position.

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“Working with Taylor on ‘1883’ was one of many nice experiences of my profession,” he mentioned. “I imply, this man is a genius in terms of placing pen to paper. And when he requested me to affix a solid led by Billy Bob Thornton, you recognize it is not going to get any higher for me. At this level in my profession, it is only a blessing to affix this group.”

Elliott went on to say that Sheridan “simply has a approach of telling the reality in his work, on the web page.”

WATCH: SAM ELLIOTT SHARES WHY HE ADDED TO THE CAST OF ‘LANDMAN’ SEASON 2

James Jordan as Dale, Sam Elliott as TL and Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy in Season 2 of “Landman”. (Emerson Miller/Paramount+)

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“He tells nice tales, and he attracts these unimaginable relationships between characters and does it with humor and with drama and does all of the issues that we actors need the chance to do,” he mentioned. “‘1883’ had extra colours for me than something I’ve ever performed. I paid the worth for it, but it surely was once more one of many nice joys of my profession, so I feel we’re all fortunate to be right here and to have the ability to draw from that.”

“And I feel that is one of many issues that drives this present and has apparently made it so profitable and addictive for individuals ready to see it once more,” Elliott added. “I do not assume I’ve ever been concerned in one thing that had so many individuals on the viewers aspect so enthusiastic about it.”

The brand new season of “Landman” premieres on November 16. (Sophy Holland/Paramount+)

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Landman’s official season two synopsis reads: “As oil rises from the earth, so do secrets and techniques – and Tommy Norris’ breaking level could also be nearer than he realizes. Confronted with mounting stress from M-Tex Oil, Cami Miller and the shadow of his kin, surviving in West Texas is not noble – it is merciless.”

The brand new season of “Landman” premieres November 16 solely on Paramount+.