Billy Bob Thornton: I shouldn’t be typecast

The 55-year-old star of Monster’s Ball and Bad Santa feels he is often cast in similar roles despite ascending from a famous family tree. The eccentric star claims he is only now emerging from the rough redneck roles that have typified his career in the past.  

“They didn’t understand my background. I came from a very literate family in the midst of illiteracy. And we have ties to a very famous literary family that I never have talked about. But that was hard at the beginning because they would only cast me as a redneck,” he told Total Film magazine.

Despite his fears, Billy has managed to create a successful career for himself. The star admits his typecasting turned out to be a double edged sword; both hindering and assisting him in his drive for acceptance.   

“I think it’s both things. In spite of and because of,” he added.