Penn Badgley is a popular American actor who became known to the viewer for his role in the television series Gossip Girl. The image of Daniel Humphrey to this day remains the most striking page of his filmography. Currently, the actor is also the leader of the MOTHXR group. More information about the biography, creative career and personal life of the actor can be found in this article.
The childhood and youth of the actor
Penn Badgley was born November 1, 1986 in Baltimore, Maryland, in a family of educators. Mother was a teacher, and father coached a school football team. The actor also has an older half-sister. Part of his childhood was spent in Richmond (Virginia), then the family moved to Seattle (Washington). In school years, Badgley Penn studied at the theater school, and also broadcast on school radio. At the age of 11, the future actor moves to Los Angeles, where for the first time he begins to seriously engage in musical activities. These classes can be considered successful, since in 1998 his first single was released. After leaving school, the young man enters the University of Southern California, but his studies are postponed due to contracts on television.
Early career (1999-2006)
At the age of 13, Badgley begins to try himself as an actor. He gets roles in the show Young and the Bold, and then in the sitcom Will and Grace. Success contributed to the young artist and in getting roles in the series. The most significant series in which the actor starred at this stage of his career was the Twilight Zone project. In 2005, Bagley Penn first appears in a feature film. His first work was the picture "Die, John Tucker!", Where he played the role of John himself (Lovelace, who decided to take revenge on offended girls). The film was released in 2006 and brought the actor considerable fame, which contributed to his acceptance for the role of Daniel Humphrey in the series "Gossip Girl"
Gaining popularity (2007-2012)
The image that Badgley needed to play in the film “Gossip Girl” was one of the most interesting in the series, and his successful embodiment contributed to the increase in the actor’s popularity and the emergence of new fans of his work. His hero was one of the few middle-class representatives in an elite college, because of which he was forced to constantly prove that he was not a “white crow”. The hero completely succeeds; moreover, Daniel Humphrey conquers the most popular college girl - Serena.
The series lasted until 2012, the actor starred in it until the very end. The role of Serena was performed by actress Blake Lively. Penn Badgley, in parallel with his work in Gossip Girl, managed to star in several feature films. One of them can be considered successful only the film “Excellent student of easy virtue” with Emma Stone in the title role, in which Badgley was assigned the role of Todd Waterson. The picture was expected as a commercial success ($ 75 million in fees at a cost of 8 million), and a lot of positive reviews. For the role in this film, Penn Badgley was nominated for the "Teenagers Choice" award for the seventh time, however, he was unsuccessful, as in all previous times (before that he was nominated every year from 2006 to 2011 for his role in "Gossip Girl").
Continuation of acting career and the creation of the musical group Mother
In 2013, Bagley joins the filming of the film “Cymbelin” (a modern interpretation of the work of the same name by William Shakespeare) in the role of Leonat Postum. In 2014, the artist quite loudly declares himself as a musician. He and his comrades create the band Mother and release their first single, Easy, which has become popular in a relatively short time. A month later, the group rebrands, the name changes to MOTHXR. The renaming was made so that it was impossible to confuse the group with others having the same name. The band's debut album was released on February 26, 2016.
Badley Penn: personal life
During the filming of the series “Gossip Girl”, Badgley enters into a relationship with Blake Lively, thereby actors actually repeat the serial fate of their characters. It is not known exactly when their romantic relationship began, since the couple hid them, but in 2008 the paparazzi found them together on vacation in Mexico. It is known that the novel lasted about 3 years and ended in parting. From 2011 to autumn 2013, Badgie Penn meets with Zoe Kravitz, daughter of singer Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. This novel ended in a break. In 2014, Badgley begins a relationship with singer Dominia Kirke. February 27, 2017 they get married in New York. From this marriage, the actor has a stepson.
Social activity
Actor Bagley Penn actively supported Barack Obama during the 2008 election campaign. On the account of the actor there are a number of television shows in his support. In 2010, the American Red Cross included Bagley in his "celebrity cabinet", which includes prominent personalities who provide significant assistance to the organization. In 2013, the actor took part in the “Black Lives Are Important” movement, and he is also an activist in the LGBT community rights movement.