Sean Penn, the 63-year-old Academy Award-winning actor, has found a new sense of freedom and contentment in his single life after experiencing three divorces. In a candid interview with The New York Times, Penn shared his evolved perspective on romance and relationships, expressing that he is “thrilled every day” to be single.
Penn’s journey through love and marriage has been a tumultuous one. He was first married to pop icon Madonna from 1985 to 1989. His second marriage was to actress Robin Wright in 1996, with whom he shares two children, Dylan and Hopper. This marriage lasted until 2010. His most recent marriage was to Australian actress Leila George in 2020, but it ended in divorce just a year later, finalized in 2022.
Reflecting on his past relationships, Penn revealed that he no longer feels the need to be in a serious relationship to find happiness. “I’m just free,” he told The New York Times. “If I’m going to be in a relationship, I’m still going to be free, or I’m not going to be in it, and I’m not going to be hurting. I don’t sense I’ll have my heart broken by romance again.”
Penn’s experiences in his marriages have shaped his current outlook. He described how, in some of his past relationships, he felt a constant pressure to make his partner happy, a feeling that was rarely reciprocated. “The first thing I see in the morning are eyes wondering what I’m going to do to make them happy that day. Rarely reciprocated,” he said.
He also spoke about the emotional toll that some of his relationships took on him. “On one of my marriages, the background noise of life was a ‘Housewives of Beverly Hills’ or another thing called ‘Love Island,'” he recalled. “Not even being in the room — I’m not saying this to be cute — I was dying. I felt my heart, my brain shrinking. It was an assault.”
Penn emphasized that he has moved past the stage of seeking drama in his romantic life. Any unnecessary drama or emotional turmoil, which he refers to as visits from “the trauma gods,” would quickly diminish his feelings for the person involved. Instead, he finds solace in the simple companionship of his dogs. “I look at my dogs and say, ‘Hey, it’s us again,'” he shared.
The actor’s contentment with single life is not an isolated sentiment. A 2022 Pew Research Center survey of 6,034 U.S. adults revealed that about 30% of those over the age of 50 are single. Among all single adults surveyed, 57% stated that they are not currently looking for a relationship or casual dates. This data suggests that many people, like Penn, find fulfillment and happiness outside of romantic relationships.
Therapist Bonnie Scott, founder of Mindful Kindness Counseling, has noted that single people often experience numerous mental and physical benefits. Being single allows individuals to make decisions independently, leading to a greater sense of freedom and autonomy.
Penn’s reflections on his past marriages also shed light on the complexities of maintaining relationships, especially when children are involved. He acknowledged that repairing a friendship after divorce is often quicker when there are no children involved. “It turns out it’s a lot quicker to repair a friendship after divorce if there are not kids involved,” he said. “It took Robin and I quite a while. There was a lot of drama.” Despite the challenges, he emphasized the importance of repairing relationships for the sake of their children.
In his interview, Penn also touched on some of the highly publicized arguments he had with Madonna during their marriage. He recounted an incident where Madonna, concerned about guns in the house, called the police, leading to a SWAT team intrusion. “I said, ‘I’m not coming out. I’m going to finish my breakfast.’ The next thing I knew, windows were being broken all around the house and they came in,” he recalled. Despite their tumultuous past, Penn expressed that Madonna is “someone I love” and mentioned their plans to collaborate on a video for a peace summit in Ukraine.
Penn’s journey through love, marriage, and divorce has ultimately led him to a place of self-acceptance and contentment. His story resonates with many who find themselves single later in life, highlighting the potential for happiness and fulfillment outside of traditional romantic relationships.
Source: The New York Times, Business Insider
