More than 20 years after they split, Billy Bob Thornton has finally explained his infamous ‘blood vial’ with Angelina Jolie.
The Pushing Tin co-stars had a whirlwind romance, meeting on set in 1999, marrying the following year, announced the adoption of son Maddox in 2002 and then splitting just three months later.
The couple’s relationship quickly came under the spotlight not only due to the fact he was nearly 20 years older than the actress – who was 24 at the time – but their more…unusual, public displays of affection.
That included claims they wore vials of each other’s blood around their necks.
In the past the pair have each tried to debunk the rumours, but Billy Bob has now explained what actually happened.
‘We each had a little locket, literally with a drop of blood in them,’ he told Rolling Stone.
‘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.’
Speaking about his past relationship, the now 70-year-old said they split on good terms.
‘And of course, Angelina [Jolie] and I had a great time together. That was one of the greatest times of my life,’ he said.
‘She and I are still very, very close friends. And that was the one that ended up being a really civilised breakup. We simply split up because our lifestyles were so different.’
In 2014, Billy Bob addressed the longstanding speculation about their blood vials while speaking at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film & Television.
‘[A] vial of blood is very simple. Angie came home one day with a kit she bought,’ he said.
‘You know those lockets you buy that are clear and you put a picture of your grannie in it or something like that and wear it around your neck? That’s what it was.’
‘She thought it would be interesting and romantic if we took a little razor blade and sliced our fingers, smeared a little blood on these lockets and you wear it around your neck just like you wear your son or daughter’s baby hair in one. Same thing. From that we were wearing quart jars of blood around our necks.’
Meanwhile in 2008 Angelina, now 50, had told Entertainment Weekly that it was ‘never a vial and was like a flower press’.
‘It was like from a slight cut on your finger and you press your fingerprint in. It was kind of a sweet gesture. I thought it was kind of romantic!’ she said.
Speaking about her ex, she added: ‘I still love him dearly and think the world of him and I’m proud to have been his wife for a time. I don’t believe in regrets. It’s a dangerous habit to get into – it makes you pause in your life if you start thinking back and questioning yourself.’
However, when their divorce was announced, she’d shared: ‘It took me by surprise, too, because overnight, we totally changed. I think one day we had just nothing in common. And it’s scary but … I think it can happen when you get involved and you don’t know yourself yet.’
A year after splitting from Billy Bob, Angelina met Brad Pitt on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith.
They went on to have six children together before splitting in 2016.
Meanwhile Billy Bob – who has been married six times and has four children by three women – has been in a relationship with makeup effects crew member Connie Angland since 2003.
After once saying he wouldn’t get married again as it ‘doesn’t work for him’, Billy Bob tied the knot with his long-term partner in 2014.
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