Although Penn Badgley ‘s portrayal of Dan Humphrey in ‘ Gossip Girl ’ helped make him a household name, the actor now takes a more critical view of that time in his life.
Badgley talked about the show’s thin world and his lack of nostalgia for the celebrity culture that surrounded it in a recent interview with The Guardian.
The actor described the “superficial celebrity aspect” of his time on the popular series, which aired from 2007 to 2012. Reflecting on the essence of ‘Gossip Girl,’ he said, “What was that show other than aesthetic? That was its thing, the way we all looked.” He further admitted, “I didn’t particularly love the superficial celebrity aspect of the way I was perceived.”
Struggles with celebrity cultureBadgley explained that his early career placed him in an environment where appearance was often equated with value. Having come out of a period marked by depression and isolation, he found himself both drawn to and restricted by Hollywood’s emphasis on physical image. “There’s no way to get past the superficiality of this work, and if you recognize that, you can’t help but recognize the superficiality of our culture,” he shared, pointing out a wider cultural issue.
Body dysmorphia Adding further context, Badgley revealed that he struggled with body dysmorphia as a child, which only heightened the pressure he felt to fit into Hollywood’s traditional beauty standards. Speaking about his aspirations during that time, he admitted, “Aspiring to resemble the classic actors I admired just seemed like an impossibility.”