Posted on 11/13/2025 10:50:49 AM PST by nickcarraway
The acclaimed star said actors from the South are often passed over for roles in Hollywood.
Key Points
Billy Bob Thornton faced prejudice in Hollywood for being Southern.
asting directors wanted exaggerated Southern accents, rejecting authentic portrayals.
Thornton says stereotypes against Southerners still persist but lessen with stardom.
Actor Billy Bob Thornton said he faced prejudice upon arrival in Hollywood because he’s Southern and believes it still exists today.
The acclaimed actor and Arkansas native, 70, who skyrocketed to fame in the film Sling Blade, went on to score an Academy Award nomination for his role in A Simple Plan. He later found success on TV in programs like Fargo and Landman. But in his early days in Hollywood, getting roles was a serious struggle, even if he was supposed to be portraying someone who grew up in the American South.
US actor Billy Bob Thornton attends the Los Angeles Emmy FYC official red carpet for "Landman" at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood on June 8, 2025. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) “There was a prejudice in Hollywood when I first got out there. There still kind of is,” Thornton said on a recent appearance on Joe Rogan‘s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, Fox News reported.
“The first thing I ever auditioned for in LA was a student film. The part was some guy that just got off the turnip truck from Alabama, and I thought, ‘Well, I probably got this.’ And I was broke, and it wasn’t going to pay anything, but I didn’t care,” Thornton recalled.
However, the response wasn’t what he expected.
“I did my little audition, and they said, ‘Can you do it more Southern?’ And I’m like, ‘Are you sh—ing me? I actually did just get off the truck from back there, and this is how you talk,” Thornton said, recalling that they told him he wasn’t “Southern enough.”
“They wanted the Foghorn Leghorn accent. I never heard anybody talk — I grew up down there — I never heard that,” he said.
Thornton Says There’s a Prejudice Against Southerners
“Southerners don’t often get picked or even noticed for things. Like, let’s say, you’re doing a gangster movie in the ’30s in New York. Even if you can do the accent, people from New York can get parts playing Southerners. That still goes on,” Thornton said.
“That’s the stereotype of the coastal cities, right? It’s the stereotype that comes out of New York and LA. It’s like everything else is stupid,” Rogan replied, adding that “When you’re in control of casting and all the great films and albums, you dismiss the people in the middle as less than or that the people are not as bright. That stereotype still exists today.”
Thornton did mention that when a star does “reach a certain level,” their background doesn’t matter as much.
Yes, of course.
If you are a Hollywood Director and have low-IQ, redneck white character villain, the standard for all Hollywood woke/leftist propaganda pieces, you will always give him a southern accent.
That’s just what Hollywood does.
Another “Well, Duh” moment.
Definitely is.
If you don’t speak with a Harvard polish about you, you might be a redneck
and anyone else who doesn’t despise America.
BBT has a non-speaking role in “Hunter’s Blood.” Set near Springdale, AR, I don’t recall any over the top southern accents, unless done tor effect by a Yankee.
Hollywood has supported every little southern democrat scenario since I can remember. So the poor southern actor is getting his/her point across whether he/she knows it or not. The only difference is they can’t get their 15 minutes of fame doing it themselves and get the face time.
wy69
When I read this I flashed on two things: genuine Irish people being told they didn't sound Irish enough for the Irish Spring commercials (true story) and Hillary Clinton's "I ain't in no ways tahred..."
Well, duh.
BBT’s done alright for himself. Love him in Landman.
Oh , the Rogan show. Well he beat their asses with Slingblade. He really cannot complain.
IMHO he is the best actor we have.
Talk like mom in em.
I think they were both stoned outta their minds . Didn’t k ow what to talk about.
C’mon. The name Billy Bob is southern enough right in your face.
Hollywood is biased against tons of silly things. Clint Eastwood was once told he’d never make it because his adams apple was to pronounced.
I don’t think writing, directing and starring in “Sling Blade” helped matters.
Sounds like trying to get IT contracts as a programmer from the south. LOL
I remember the “Rural Purge” of 1970 or so. Lots of TV shows had been made with Southern characters (Beverly Hillbillys, Petticoat Junction, Hee Haw, lots more). TV just decided to throw all of it away and switch to shows that would attract a younger, hipper, more urban audience.
I think part of the story back then was the South (of course) was racist and therefore should not be glorified or dignified in TV shows. Civil Rights had to take center stage so we got a lot of Norman Lear do-gooder shows like All In The Family, and the South became invisible. I guess I’m not really surprised that Hollywood holds on to an attitude like that. Just a bunch of primitive barbarians south of the ol’ Mason-Dixon.
Well, there was “Carter Country”.
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