Thornton puts music on hold for big movie money

Hollywood actor Billy Bob Thornton has put his life-long love of music on hold to pursue his film career - because big-budget movies pay so well.

The 53-year-old began his career as a singer-songwriter in the late 1990s, taking the stage with his cover band, Tres Hombres.

But the 'Monster's Ball' star has been reluctant to dive head first into the music business since the release of his third album in 2005, because his LPs alone don't earn enough.

He said: "I've got to do movies because they pay lots of money. I grew up in the old music business, so that's my first love."