Penn Badgley Opens Up About Struggling to Move on From “Gossip Girl” Character Dan Humphrey
Penn Badgley recently revealed in an interview on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that it wasn’t easy for him to leave behind his character Dan Humphrey from the hit CW series “Gossip Girl.” The show, which aired from 2007 to 2012, followed the scandalous lives of wealthy New York teens who were constantly under the watchful eye of an anonymous blogger known as Gossip Girl.
During the six seasons of the show, Badgley portrayed Dan Humphrey, a character who eventually is revealed to be the mysterious Gossip Girl in the final episode. Reflecting on his time on the show, Badgley admitted that it was a challenge to “move on” from the role after being so deeply immersed in it for so long.
The actor explained that the nature of television shows, where you are constantly portraying the same character over an extended period of time, made it difficult for him to separate himself from Dan Humphrey. He mentioned that at the young age of 20 to 22, he struggled with differentiating his self-worth from how people perceived his character on the show.
Furthermore, Badgley shared that the intense celebrity culture surrounding the show in the late 2000s only added to his struggles. Constantly being asked about his personal life and relationships by the media and fans made him feel pressured to constantly prove himself in some way.
Despite the challenges he faced, Badgley acknowledged the impact that “Gossip Girl” had on his career and the fond memories he had of working with his co-stars, including Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Ed Westwick. The show’s finale, where Dan is revealed to be Gossip Girl, provided a fitting end to his character’s journey and the series as a whole.
As Badgley continues to pursue his acting career beyond “Gossip Girl,” he has found success in other projects such as the Netflix series “You.” While the role of Dan Humphrey will always hold a special place in his heart, he is grateful for the opportunities it provided him and the lessons he learned along the way.
