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Key Points

Penn Badgley has opened up about his lifelong battle with body dysmorphia, tracing it back to childhood insecurities. The actor revealed how his 'Gossip Girl' role intensified his self-image struggles due to the show's focus on aesthetics. Badgley considered quitting acting but found solace in daily prayer and meditation. He now prioritizes authentic relationships over Hollywood's unrealistic beauty standards.

Key Points: Penn Badgley Reveals Childhood Body Dysmorphia Struggles

  • Penn Badgley battled body dysmorphia due to childhood trauma and acting pressures
  • 'Gossip Girl' role worsened his self-image struggles
  • He credits spirituality and meditation for overcoming career doubts
  • Prioritizes meaningful relationships over Hollywood beauty standards
1 min read

'You' star Penn Badgley opens up about struggling with body dysmorphia

'You' star Penn Badgley opens up about childhood body dysmorphia, 'Gossip Girl' pressures, and finding strength in spirituality.

"That is what allowed me to persevere through the disillusionment...with hopefully some kind of inner transformation. – Penn Badgley"

Washington, April 18

Penn Badgley, star of the hit series 'You,' has spoken candidly about his struggles with body dysmorphia throughout his childhood.

As per People magazine, in an interview, the 38-year-old actor revealed that he often felt like he was not good enough and wanted a different body.

Badgley attributed his body dysmorphia to a combination of factors, including his parents' divorce, social isolation, and the pressures of being an actor.

He said that his role as Dan Humphrey on 'Gossip Girl' exacerbated his body image issues, as the show's focus on aesthetics made him feel like he needed to conform to certain beauty standards.

Badgley considered giving up on his acting career at one point, but credits his spirituality with helping him persevere.

He practices daily prayer and meditation, and prioritises meaningful relationships with family and friends.

"That is what allowed me to persevere through the disillusionment, all the things I'd been grappling with, and then come back to it all, but with hopefully some kind of inner transformation," he said during the interview, as quoted by People magazine.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah K.
So brave of Penn to open up about this! Body dysmorphia is such a silent struggle for so many people. His honesty will definitely help others feel less alone. 💙
M
Mike T.
It's interesting how he mentions Gossip Girl contributing to his issues. That show really did push unrealistic beauty standards. Glad he found healthy coping mechanisms.
J
Jamie L.
While I appreciate his vulnerability, I wish he'd gone more into detail about how the industry can change to prevent this for other actors. The pressure is still very much there.
E
Ethan R.
As someone who's struggled with similar issues, hearing this from a successful actor means a lot. It shows that these feelings don't discriminate and can affect anyone.
L
Lisa P.
His journey with meditation and spirituality is inspiring! It's great to see public figures promote mental health awareness in such a genuine way. 🙏
D
Derek S.
Always been a fan of his acting, but now I respect him even more as a person. Takes real strength to talk about these personal battles publicly.

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