Gossip Girl Star Penn Badgley Reveals WHY He Ultimately Took on Role of Dan Humphrey Despite Initial Denial
Penn Badgley reveals why he finally agreed to star in Gossip Girl after repeatedly saying no. The actor recently discussed his disillusionment with Hollywood, the need for change, and what finally convinced him to continue acting. Badgley almost passed on the chance that would become so much a part of his early career. Before he was inseparable from his famous character, Dan Humphrey, the actor turned down the part several times due to creative exhaustion and lack of interest in television during that period. On a recent visit to the Call Her Daddy podcast, Badgley described how, after almost a decade in the business, he was emotionally and professionally spent. Having been working consistently since age 12 and being close to financial independence by age 15, he was tired of the Hollywood hustle and was dabbling in other forms of creative expression, such as music. His passion for acting had diminished, particularly after failing to land some highly sought-after roles in indie films. Badgley recalled, “I was tired of television by the time Gossip Girl …
