Billy Bob Thornton shared how Robert Redford's life-changing recommendation paved the way in which for his success in Hollywood.
The 69-year-old actor, who stars within the new drama collection “Landman” directed by Taylor Sheridan, had a small function in Redford's hit 1993 movie “Indecent Proposal,” which additionally starred Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson.
Throughout an interview with Fox Information Digital, Thornton recalled an on-set dialog he had with Redford when he discovered himself at a crossroads early in his profession.
“Redford was excellent to me and I solely had a few scenes in that film, however I used to be there for six weeks as a result of it took so lengthy to movie this,” Thornton recalled with fun.
Billy Bob Thornton shared the life-changing recommendation he acquired from Robert Redford. (Getty)
“That's when Demi and I first met,” he continued. “AND [Redford] He introduced me, I feel, I don't keep in mind, it was like a Newsweek or Time journal, a kind of. And there was an article in there a couple of film that I had co-written with Tom Epperson and co-starred in referred to as 'One False Transfer.' And this was a glowing evaluation of 'One False Transfer'.
BILLY BOB THORNTON SAYS THERE IS A 'PREJUDICE' AGAINST THE SOUTH' IN HOLLYWOOD
“He mentioned, 'Look, have you ever seen this?' I mentioned, 'No.' He mentioned, 'Learn that.' And I sat subsequent to him and he mentioned, 'Preserve doing that.' He mentioned, 'Now they'll assault you with gives.' play a superhero or one thing like that and earn money.'
“He instantly mentioned to me, 'Keep on this unbiased movie world for some time, make a reputation for your self in it, and you then'll transition to larger issues later.' However he mentioned, 'That is the place you might want to be initially as a result of you’ll be able to exit and make a smelly film, a giant occasion film and that's it,'” Thornton recalled.
“In order that's what he instructed me. And he was proper.”
Thornton appeared alongside Redford and Demi Moore in “Indecent Proposal.” (Paramount Footage/Getty Photos)
The “Armageddon” star beforehand revealed that he acquired related recommendation from one other Hollywood icon when he was struggling as a younger actor. Throughout a 1997 look on “Charlie Rose,” Thorton recalled working as a waiter at a Hollywood occasion the place he met legendary director Billy Wilder. The 2 struck up a dialog throughout which Wilder assumed that Thornton needed to be an actor.
“I didn't know waiters had been actors in these days,” Thornton mentioned. “I didn't know the entire joke, however I mentioned, 'Yeah, how do you know that?' I believed the man was psychic or one thing. And he mentioned, 'Oh, you all need to be actors.' He mentioned, 'Properly, let me inform you one thing.'”
“He mentioned, 'That is the place you ought to be initially as a result of you’ll be able to exit and make a smelly film, a giant occasion film and that's it.'”
Thornton continued: “And I used to be nice, thanks very a lot.” And he mentioned, 'You're too ugly to be a film star, and also you don't appear like you've been hit within the face with a frying pan, so you’ll be able to't be a terrific character.'”
Thornton mentioned the director of “Some Like It Sizzling” then suggested him to turn into a screenwriter.
“'That's your ticket,'” Thornton recalled Wilder telling him. “'That's the one approach to do it. So write your personal stuff, play your personal stuff, make your personal path. You already know, nobody's going to attend for you.'”
Thornton received the Oscar for finest screenwriter for “Sling Blade” and acquired a nomination for finest actor. (Deanne Fitzmaurice/San Francisco Chronicle through Getty Photos)
Thornton co-wrote “One False Transfer” with frequent collaborator Tom Epperson and likewise starred within the movie as murderous thug Ray Malcolm. The low-budget crime thriller was met with essential acclaim and launched Thornton's profession within the leisure business.
Three years after working with Redford, Thornton directed, wrote and starred within the 1996 unbiased movie “Sling Blade.” The crime thriller adopted Karl Childers (Thornton), a mentally disabled man who’s launched from the psychiatric hospital the place he spent most of his life after murdering his mom and lover. Childers units out to begin a brand new life in a small city and befriends a boy and his mom.
WATCH: BILLY BOB THORNTON SAYS ROBERT REDFORD'S LIFE-CHANGING PROFESSIONAL ADVICE LED TO SUCCESS IN HOLLYWOOD
Thornton rose to fame after “Sling Blade” grew to become a shock field workplace hit and acquired rave opinions. The Arkansas native received the Academy Award for finest screenplay and earned an Oscar nomination for his efficiency. 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 actor has additionally earned quite a few accolades for his work on tv. He received a Golden Globe for his starring function within the first season of the FX anthology collection “Fargo” and was additionally nominated for an Emmy Award for Excellent Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Film. Thornton received her second Golden Globe for her efficiency within the Amazon authorized drama collection “Goliath,” which she starred in for 4 seasons from 2016 to 2021.
Thornton received a Golden Globe for his efficiency in “Goliath.” (Kevin Winter/Getty Photos)
Thornton now returns to the small display with Sheridan's new present, “Landman.” The present marks the on-screen reunion of Thornton and Moore and likewise stars Ali Larter and Jon Hamm with visitor appearances from Michael Peña and Andy García.
The plot synopsis learn: “Set within the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, 'Landman' is a contemporary story of discovering your fortune on the planet of oil rigs.”
LOOK: BILLY BOB THORNTON SHARES HOW HE CAME TO STAR IN TAYLOR SHERIDAN'S NEW SHOW 'LANDMAN'
Primarily based on the outstanding 11-part podcast “Boomtown,” the collection is a narrative of thugs and wild billionaires fueling a growth so massive it’s reshaping our local weather, our economic system and our geopolitics.”
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“Boomtown” host Christian Wallace has teamed up with Sheridan to create the 10-episode Paramount+ present, which is able to premiere its first season on Nov. 17.
Thornton now performs Tommy Norris on Taylor Sheridan's new present, “Landman.” (Supreme+)
Thornton, who leads the forged of “Landman,” performs Tommy Norris, a disaster government at an oil firm. Throughout his interview with Fox Information Digital, Thornton recalled that Sheridan approached him concerning the present after the actor appeared within the “Yellowstone” prequel collection, “1883.”
“I did a cameo in '1883' for Taylor and on the assembly afterwards, I sat subsequent to him and he mentioned, 'Hear, I'm glad I get to be round you and all the things as a result of I’ve this challenge.' and I needed to do that with you.” He mentioned, 'I'm writing one thing for you referred to as 'Landman.' [about] the world it's set in and I knew one thing about, however I believed, 'Properly, that's attention-grabbing.' I haven't actually seen something about this because the film “Big.”
WATCH: BILLY BOB THORNTON ON WHETHER HE FEELS PRESSURE TO MAKE THE NEW SHOW 'LANDMAN' A SUCCESS
Thornton famous that he cherished “Big,” the 1956 epic western drama starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and Dean Martin.
“Landman” marks the on-screen reunion of Thornton and Moore. (Supreme+)
“And I believed this may very well be the streaming model of 'Big,' solely much more harmful and crazier,” Thornton mentioned. “So it was a no brainer. Plus, Taylor mainly mentioned, 'Look, I do know your voice. I'm going to write down this for you.' And he mentioned, 'This half can be you should you had been a landowner.'”
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Sheridan scored huge success with the epic western drama “Yellowstone” and its hit spin-offs “1883” and “1923.” He’s additionally the creator of the hit crime collection “Tulsa King,” starring Sylvester Stallone, and “Mayor of Kingstown,” headed by Jeremy Renner.
Whereas talking with Fox Information Digital, Thornton shared his ideas on whether or not he felt stress to make “Landman” a success after Sheridan's earlier successes.
“Landman” premieres November 17 on Paramount+. (Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
“Certain,” Thornton mentioned. “Any time somebody has had success, let's say a director has directed 12 big motion pictures that everybody loves, you don't need to be the man who ruins it,” Thornton mentioned with fun.
He continued, “So, yeah, there's a variety of stress due to the success he's had with the opposite reveals. However, you understand, there's at all times an viewers for every kind of issues.”
“And I do know Taylor loves this one, and all of us find it irresistible,” Thornton added. “Everybody who participated on this loves it.”
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