‘You’ star Penn Badgley opens up about body image issues

Penn Badgley, famously known for his role as Joe Goldberg on Netflix’s You, has revealed he battled with body image issues.

The actor made a heartbreaking confession about his struggle admitting that there was a time when he “hated” his body.

Penn revealed he that pressurised himself to look like the actors he saw on TV and films. The actor had gained weight sharply after his parents went through a rough divorce, making him isolate himself.

“I know that I hated my body and simply wanted a different one,” Penn said in conversation with The Guardian.

The 38-year-old explained that the more “conventionally beautiful” he seemed, the more successful he believed he might be and the more value he would have.

Penn is also known for his role as Dan Humphery on the drama series Gossip Girl, during which he believed he considered changing his career because he didn’t like the way he was being perceived by the “superficial celebrity affect”.

How long did Blake Lively date Penn?

Penn Badgley dated his Gossip Girl co-star Blake Lively from 2007 to 2010. Their relationship was on-and-odd as they were also shooting for the show during this time.

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