Billy Bob Thornton is a sort of an outcast in snobby Tinseltown.

He sticks out like a sore thumb among Hollywood’s elite – and that’s why I like him.

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve ever heard about yourself?

One that was bizarre was that I only eat orange food. It was in the papers for two or three years! I used to go to this one hotel and have breakfast there and only order a plate of papaya and coffee, and those hotel people always talk about you to the media. So I think someone must have said, “All he ever orders is papaya,” and it must have come from that.

What initially attracted you to playing music?

My two dreams were to either be in the Beatles or pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals. I listened to country music — particularly Ray Price and Jim Reeves — when I was a little kid, because my folks did. But when my brother and I saw the Beatles on ‘Ed Sullivan,’ I was nine years old and that was the end of it right there — I was either going to be in a band or I’d jump off a building.

Who taught you to play drums?

In the mid ’60s, there was a band in our town called The Yardleys. They were like the Beatles to us. They were seniors when I was a freshman, and they had a drummer named Bucky Griggs who played a red sparkle Ludwig kit. I coveted that kit. He was like Ringo [Starr] … He taught me how to do a couple of things. My first real drum kit was a red sparkle Ludwig kit, just like his.

What’s the biggest misconception about you?

Probably that I’m dark — because I’m really not. I write about dark stuff, I’ve been involved in dark things and I’ve been around a dark world in my lifetime, but I’m a pretty open and friendly guy. [I'm] probably not as strange as people think.

What kind of dad are you?

Teddy bear. I’m such a pushover.

You’ve been married five times. Would you ever tie the knot again?

No. I’m not good for that. It’s not my bag. I think I’ve finally proved that! [laughs]

What’s the most personal song you’ve ever written?

‘The Boy Is Gone’ on [my album] ‘Beautiful Door’ because it’s about my brother who died in ‘88, so it’s pretty personal. That’s also [Kris] Kristofferson’s favorite song I’ve written. I hadn’t even told him what it was about, but he responded to that song in a real heavy way.

If you could have a drink with one musician, living or dead, who would it be?

John Lennon.

Who’s an actress you’re dying to work with?

Jessica Biel for one reason and Cate Blanchett for another. I’ve worked with Cate twice, and I’d say she’s probably the best actress out there. I’d like to do another movie with Angie [ex-wife Angelina Jolie], too, one of these days. We talk all the time. She and I keep looking for something to do together; we just have to find the right thing.

If you could play a biographical character in a film, who would it be?

Benjamin Franklin. He was the first rock star. That guy was a total renaissance man. People think of him as the guy who flew a kite and figured out electricity, but he was the Ambassador to France. He was a practical guy, but a real spiritual guy … and a real ladies’ man.

If a movie were made about your life, what actor would you want to play you?

Tim Roth or Gary Oldman. I think they’re good actors.

[TheBoot]