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Gone are the days when Penn Badgley was regarded as an upstart in the entertainment industry. The actor is considered one of the finest stars today, thanks to his roles in dramas likeGossip Girl,and the psychological thrillerYou.
Badgley is an actor who has presented several challenging and often perilous roles. Indeed, his portrayal of Goldberg created such a defining and influential effect in pop culture that he became a notable star in the industry.
So as the actor turns 38, let’s look at some interesting things about Penn Badgley that you probably did not know!
Penn Badgley was skeptical about playing Joe Goldberg inYou
Fans have been fascinated by Badgley’s character as Joe because of the charm, intensity, and rather uneasy moral ambiguity depicted. Such is the holdPenn Badgleyhas impressed upon this role, one cannot believe that anyone else apart from him can play the character of a bookshop manager turned into the obvious serial killer of Joe Goldberg.
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While fans ofYouwill continue to watch in wonder as the deadly nature of Joe Goldberg is bared, Badgley almost missed out on this weighty role. At first, Penn did not want to take on a character such as that of Goldberg for the actor had strongly held reservations towards such disturbed characters who are often portrayed as the hero of the narrative despite their violent behavior. In an interview, the actor toldEntertainment Weekly,
I didn’t want to do it — it was too much. I was conflicted with the nature of the role. If this is a love story, what is it saying? It’s not an average show; it’s a social experiment. And then what was key in me wanting to jump on board were my conversations with Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, the creators, and understanding Joe’s humanity,
However, he mentioned that the producers felt he would be suitable for the part since Joe’s character’s empathy was a key element for the audience. Badgley further added,
To be honest, in the beginning of the process, I had no interest in humanizing him. Like, please, spare us. But then I realized the only thing you can do as an actor is bring a character to life, and all that that means.
In the end, the actor in him could not resist the temptation of taking up this role and exploring the challenges associated with it.
TheYoustar turned down the role inGossip Girltwice
Badgley was one of the main actors in the CW seriesGossip Girl, which went on air from 2007 to 2012. During the time it aired, the series helped young actors such as Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, and Badgley himself to shine out. But did you know that Badgley initially turned down the part of Dan Humphrey inGossip Girltwice?
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Badgley himself mentioned that it was the show’s co-creator Stephanie Savage herself who could not fathom his refusal and yet he said he declined the offer of playing Dan onGossip Girlbecause he was fed up being cast in similar roles in different series. In a conversation withVulture, the actor revealed,
I was frustrated and I was broke and I was depressed, and I was like, ‘I cannot do that again. I can’t’.
When he was finally able to understand the character, he accepted the role of Dan that was created for him. It was one of the most vivid characters in his performance, allowing him to rise in the ranking of theGossip Girlcast, as well as, cementing his role in the series.
Penn Badgley is also a musician and part of a band
A lot of the fans don’t know that before becoming an actor, Badgley had dreams of being a professional musician. He is a rather skilled artist and a founding member of the music band called MOTHXR.
The Brooklyn-based indie band formed in 2013 released its debut album calledCenterfoldin 2016. The album, which contains elements of R&B and synth-pop, puts to the fore, Badgley’s impressive voice. For several years, Penn was able to find a way to coexist with both music and film without having to give up either of them despite loads of acting work, traversing the country and even the world with the band.
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MOTHXR has retreated into the shadows for the time being, but the music remains ingrained in Penn’s bones as he still shares a couple of videos here and there on social media with himself playing some music.
Badgley shared withCosmothat he and a few of his friends started the band as a passion project but later it went big. Since then, the indie-pop collective has toured almost everywhere.
The actor graduated from high school at a very young age
Badgley displayed academic maturity at an early age as he was able to complete high school at the age of 13. The actor revealed that to pursue acting and all the roles he wanted to play, he had to finish high school five years earlier than most. In an interview withNew York Daily News, Badgley revealed,
I graduated when I was 13. It was really just to avoid the on-set tutor thing. I was taking community college courses when I wasn’t working so I’d spend six months working and six months going to school, on and off.
At just 12, he was featured in an episode ofWill & Graceand that same year, he got a role on the popular dramaThe Young and the Restless. The actor revealed that at that time he was also accepted at the University of Southern California but repudiated the offer as he wanted to focus on acting. He told the outlet,
I was accepted at USC but I never went. I was working as well and I realised at that point I didn’t want to go to film school, I just really wanted to work and do what I was doing.
Understandably, such a complex character as Joe Goldberg comes to him easily as most of his life was spent acting and working on complex roles.
Penn Badgley had a romantic relationship with co-star Blake Lively
During the first few seasons ofGossip Girl, Badgley andBlake Livelyfound themselves in a romantic relationship even as they played on-screen characters Dan and Serena respectively. Their romance began in 2007 which coincided with the airing of the series; the two called it quits in 2010 after dating for three years.
Even though the two stars broke up, yet, they continued working as actors onGossip Girlfor several years. Badgley has spoken quite a bit about how important Blake Lively was to him in his life. The actor also explained how the actress prevented him from going off the rails at the time of a crisis of the spirit.
Reasons notwithstanding, the two ended their relationship, which lasted for three years, due to the complications that stood between their private and professional lives. Nevertheless, Badgley has not eased up on the respect and admiration he has for the actress who was once his co-star. In an interview withVariety, theYouactor also revealed that she was crucial in salvaging him from the depths of his career, in a conversation with the publication.
The incredible journey of Badgley from an aspiring actor in the Hollywood scene to an acclaimed actor speaks volumes of his talent, resilience, and dedication.
Marita Pinto
Content Writer
Articles Published :15
With over two years of experience in the field of writing, Marita explores the world of pop culture and movies. She loves writing pieces that are insightful, engaging, and informative. When she is penning down words, you may find her binge-watching TV show and movies all day. Currently, she is contributing as an Evergreen Long-Form Content Writer at FandomWire.
