Billy Bob Thornton has addressed the long-standing curiosity surrounding the Billy Bob Thornton blood vials he and Angelina Jolie famously exchanged. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the acclaimed actor and musician revisited this oft-discussed episode from their high-profile relationship in the early 2000s.
Reflecting on a Notorious Pop Culture Moment
Thornton, who stars in the current season of Landman on Paramount+, took time away from promoting the series to clarify the reality behind the blood vial story. The actor explained that during his marriage to Angelina Jolie, the two had gifted each other lockets containing a drop of their own blood.
“We each had a little locket, literally with a drop of blood in them. That’s a romantic little idea, and that’s all that was. But by the time it’s over, we’re vampires. We live in a dungeon, we drink each other’s blood, and this kind of stuff,”
Thornton told Rolling Stone.
A Relationship Still Fondly Remembered
Thornton and Jolie began their relationship at the turn of the millennium, marrying in 2000 before going their separate ways in 2003. Despite the dramatic media attention, Thornton spoke warmly of their time together, reiterating a sense of deep respect and enduring friendship between them.
“And of course, Angelina and I had a great time together. That was one of the greatest times of my life,”
he shared.
“She and I are still very, very close friends. And that was the one that ended up being a really civilized breakup. We simply split up because our lifestyles were so different.”
Looking Back and Moving Forward
The revelations Thornton offered in his Rolling Stone discussion provide a clarifying perspective on one of pop culture’s more unusual love stories. While public fascination with the Billy Bob Thornton blood vials may never truly fade, the actor’s words paint a picture of romance, close friendship, and respect that survived beyond the breakup. As Thornton continues to appear in Landman, the enduring interest in his past with Jolie remains a striking part of his broader pop culture legacy.
