Penn Badgley, best known for having played Dan Humphrey on the legendary television show “Gossip Girl,” recently got real about the mistakes he made while in relationships. He reflected on his family life now. Badgley as seen from 2007-2012 on Gossip Girl. Along the way, he’d fallen in love with his co-star Blake Lively, who played Serena van der Woodsen. The two dated in real life from 2007 to 2010, which may explain the undeniable on-screen chemistry that had viewers buzzing.
In this intimate conversation, Badgley opened up about how his formative artistic experiences helped bolster his sense of self. “What people seemed to think of Dan seemed to be what people thought of me,” he revealed. His position forged an immediate and powerful link to real-world impact. As a result, his struggles with separating himself from his character followed him into his early twenties. He noted, “Now I had enough sense, enough intelligence, enough self-worth… it bothered me.”
Prior to his current marriage to Lively, Badgley dated a string of women and said he had “three different long-term relationships” in his twenties. He described the whirlwind of emotions that surrounded his connection with Lively, stating, “When we first met, it was immediate… I think we wanted to be together in the deepest way.”
These days, Badgley is married to Kirke’s sister Domino, a doula, whom he married in 2017. The couple are parents to a son named James, born in 2020, and are currently expecting twins. Badgley is thrilled at the prospect of adding to their family. They feel confident about using their experience parenting their daughter to get through the more intense arrival of twins. “I think having twins won’t be overwhelming since we are already raising two children,” he stated.
In addition to being a support system, Kirke plays a key role in helping Melissa get ready for their expanding family. As a doula, she was able to provide invaluable expertise and comfort—which helped make Badgley’s transition into parenthood a little easier. The couple’s collaboration goes even further outside their nuclear household; Marrying Kirke made Badgley a stepfather to her older son, Cassius.
Reflecting on his career and its impact on his personal life, Badgley acknowledged the different demands of film and television. He explained, “When you do a film, you do it once… and you kind of give it your all. When you do a television show, you’re doing it constantly because of the nature of that show.” This nonstop presence undercuts any line between actor and character, creating challenges for even the most seasoned performers.
