- Penn Badgley says he dealt with body dysmorphia throughout his childhood
- He said being an actor brought added pressure to how he viewed his appearance
- Badgley considered giving up his acting career at one point, but was able to “persevere” thanks to his spirituality
Penn Badgley revealed that he struggled with body dysmorphia throughout his childhood.
The You star, 38, spoke to The Guardian and explained that although he wasn’t officially diagnosed by a doctor or psychologist, he had difficulty accepting his looks as a kid.
“I know that I hated my body and simply wanted a different one,” he told the outlet.
Body dysmorphia is a mental health disorder in which a person can’t stop thinking about a perceived defect or flaw in their appearance, according to the Mayo Clinic. The disorder can cause anxiety and distress, making it difficult to function in social situations and daily life.
Badgley admitted that as a response to his parents’ divorce and social isolation, he started overeating and put on weight. At the time, he was idolizing the men he watched in movies, feeling like he should look like them.
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However, becoming an actor brought added pressures.
“There was just a period where, coming out of depression and isolation, I was jumping willfully into, but also being thrust into, this world where the more conventionally beautiful I seemed, the more successful I might be, the more value I might have,” he said. “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, because of the way it rewards this work.”
This was extremely prevalent in his role as Dan Humphrey on Gossip Girl.
“What was that show other than aesthetic? That was its thing, the way we all looked,” he noted. “I didn’t particularly love the superficial celebrity aspect of the way I was perceived.”
Badgley told the outlet that at one point, he considered leaving acting, but was able to get through his struggles with his appearance through his spirituality.
“That is what allowed me to persevere through the disillusionment, all the things I’d been grappling with, and then come back to it all, but with hopefully some kind of inner transformation,” he explained.
In addition to praying and meditating every day, the actor said he leans on “the simple stuff of life, like having a family, meaningful relationships with my friends.”
If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.