Billy Bob Thornton shoots a music video while performing with his band The Boxmasters at Poodies Hilltop Bar. Spicewood, Texas - 19.11.08

The Oscar winner is fascinated by the restaurant's claim to fame - and always tries to encourage pals to take on the challenge.

He says, "We always stop in Amarillo, Texas at a place called The Big Texan, and The Big Texan has this 72-ounce steak... It's pretty frightening.

"If you eat the whole thing... and you have to eat the sides also, which means a baked potato, a roll, a salad and a shrimp cocktail... you get it free.

"They've had, like, 70-something thousand people try and 8,000 people have actually done it."

Thornton thought his dream of witnessing a big eat would be realised when a roadie and security guard for his band The Boxmasters recently challenged each other to a steak challenge.

He explains, "They were at each other all week about this steak and they're gonna challenge each other and we were all excited - we're betting on them. And we get in there and they just had dinner and it was pretty boring... We just sat there and watched these guys eat for an hour."

Source: WENN