'It was never a vial': Angelina Jolie thought it was 'romantic' to wear Billy Bob Thornton's blood around her neck

Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton were married from 2000 to 2003 after meeting on the set of 'Pushing Tin' in 1999

UPDATED JUN 16, 2023

Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie wore 'blood necklaces' during their marriage (Chris Weeks/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The Hollywood spotlight shines brightly on the intense legal battle between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. From their grand wedding in 2014 to their divorce in 2019, their relationship has been anything but ordinary. However, prior to her relationship with Pitt, the actress was married to actor-director Billy Bob Thornton.

The former spouses met on the set of 'Pushing Tin' in 1999 when Thornton was engaged to 'Big Little Lies' star Laura Dern. During the early 2000s, the couple made headlines with their candid interviews and public displays of affection. However, it was their unconventional choice of jewelry that drew significant attention. The couple famously wore necklaces that held vials containing each other's blood, fueling widespread fascination.

Actress Angelina Jolie and her husband, actor-director Billy Bob Thornton, attend the premiere of the MGM Pictures'' film — Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton wearing blood vial necklaces (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

'A vial of blood is very simple'

Reflecting on this, Thornton expressed his belief that the media exaggerated the significance of the necklaces, suggesting that the attention they received was blown out of proportion. Thornton told EW, "[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 bought two of those. We were apart a lot because she's off making Tomb Raider and I'm making Monster's Ball. We were on opposite ends—we see each other for two weeks and whatever."

Cast member Angelina Jolie and husband Billy Bob Thornton at the 'Original Sin' premiere held at DGA Theater in Los Angeles, CA., Tues., July 31, 2001. (photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) — Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton wearing blood vial necklaces (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

'We were vampires and we lived in a dungeon'

"She thought it would be interesting and romantic if we took a little razorblade 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," he joked. He added, "And we were vampires and we lived in a dungeon." Thornton still believes that what was said about their necklaces was overblown. "From that we were wearing quart jars of blood around our necks," he quipped.

Actress Angelina Jolie and her husband Billy Bob Thornton attend the premiere of the MGM Pictures film — Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton wearing blood vial necklaces (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

'It was like a flower press'

After their divorce in 2003, Jolie also addressed the infamous necklaces. "It was never a vial... It 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!" Jolie also revealed how she feels about Thornton, saying, "I still love him dearly and think the world of him and I'm proud to have been his wife for a time."