Before the infamous romance between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie on the set of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," there was another chapter in Jolie's love life that stirred Hollywood gossip.
In 1997, Laura Dern, recent Oscar winner for "Marriage Story," found herself entangled with Billy Bob Thornton, marking the beginning of a tumultuous affair.
At the time, Thornton had a history of four failed marriages lasting less than two years each, while Dern had recently separated from Jeff Goldblum. The sparks between Thornton and Dern ignited during their meeting on the set of the Ellen DeGeneres show.
Their relationship was progressing smoothly until the filming commitments led them in different directions. Dern traveled to Virginia for "October Sky," while Thornton headed to New York for "Out of Control," co-starring with the emerging actress Angelina Jolie.
In "Out of Control," Thornton played a pilot, and Jolie portrayed his young wife. Despite initial resistance, the chemistry between Thornton and Jolie flourished, leading to a rapid romance. Within days of their first encounter, Jolie had Thornton's name tattooed on her groin, and a few weeks later, they impulsively married in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Laura Dern remained unaware of the drastic turn in her relationship. Engrossed in her work in Virginia, she discovered the shocking news through a magazine article showcasing her former boyfriend's unexpected marriage to another woman.
Dern shared her experience in a 2000 interview with Talk Magazine, describing the situation as a sudden and unexplained loss. Thornton and Dern never communicated again. Twelve years later, Thornton addressed the matter casually, stating that he left someone who made him happy for someone who made him happier, expressing regret for any pain caused.
In 2003, Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton's passionate romance came to an end, marking his fifth divorce and her second. Two years later, the filming of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" echoed a similar narrative, with Brad Pitt leaving Jennifer Aniston to embark on a relationship with Jolie.
Today, both Jennifer Aniston and Laura Dern have reached the pinnacle of their careers, starring in successful projects and receiving accolades. The heartbreak caused by a man who cheated on them with the same actress is now a distant memory.
