(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Billy Bob Thornton claims he is regularly typecast in films despite his stellar heritage.

The 55-year-old star of Monsters Ball and Bad Santa feels he is often cast in similar roles despite ascending from a famous family tree. The eccentric star claims he is only now emerging from the rough redneck roles that have typified his career in the past.

They didnt understand my background. I came from a very literate family in the midst of illiteracy. And we have ties to a very famous literary family that I never have talked about. But that was hard at the beginning because they would only cast me as a redneck, he told Total Film magazine.

Despite his fears, Billy has managed to create a successful career for himself. The star admits his typecasting turned out to be a double edged sword; both hindering and assisting him in his drive for acceptance.

I think its both things. In spite of and because of, he added. (C) Cover Media