Billy Bob Thornton, 69, appeared on The One Show alongside co-star Jon Hamm to promote their new Paramount+ series, Landman, but it was his surprising look that left viewers talking. Sporting a tilted trilby hat and a dark beard, the Bad Santa star looked so different that many fans on social media found him “unrecognisable.”

Fans took to Twitter to express their surprise. One user asked, “What on earth is Billy Bob Thornton wearing on his head?” while another commented on his “odd” style choice. Thornton, known for his roles in Fargo and Sling Blade, is no stranger to transformation, but this appearance took fans by surprise.

Thornton, who has been in over 50 films and series since the 1980s, has had a colorful personal life, including his brief marriage to Angelina Jolie in 2000, which ended in divorce in 2003. Now, he’s starring as a high-stakes foreman in Landman, a series about the oil industry’s impact on families and fortunes.

Describing his character’s role, Thornton said, “My character deals with everyone in the oil fields and faces constant pressure.” Reflecting on the gamble of the oil business, he added, “People think billionaires stay billionaires, but it’s a gamble. My character’s job is to keep that from happening.”

Landman, which explores the complexities of oil extraction and its impact on personal lives, has brought Thornton back to the spotlight in a compelling way. Fans may not have recognized him at first glance, but Thornton’s powerful role in the series is sure to make an impression.