Within Reason #99 Penn Badgley - My Religious Conflicts With Playing a Killer
17 snips
Mar 17, 2025 Penn Badgley, acclaimed for his roles in "You" and "Gossip Girl," opens up about wrestling with morality while portraying dark characters. He discusses the emotional toll of embodying a sociopath and the interplay of faith and artistic expression, drawing from his experiences as a member of the Baháʼí Faith. The conversation traverses the unity of religions, the pursuit of true happiness in Hollywood, and humanity's responsibility to tackle global challenges like climate change. Badgley's journey reflects a transformative view on character, spirituality, and societal perception.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Method Acting and Inner Exploration
- Penn Badgley believes the best actors access parts of themselves to portray characters authentically, even challenging ones.
- To play a murderer, he explores portals of trauma and rage within himself, rather than surface-level pretending.
Joe Goldberg: Not a Clinical Psychopath
- Penn Badgley explains that Joe Goldberg's character, while having childhood trauma, isn't a clinical portrayal of a psychopath.
- He views the show as a starting point for conversations about the complexities of such characters, rather than a clinical study.
Balancing Character Portrayal
- Penn Badgley discusses the challenge of portraying Joe Goldberg without defending his morality.
- He emphasizes reminding viewers of Joe's murderous nature, despite the character's distorted romantic heroism.
