Penn Badgley reflects on pressure of dating Blake

Penn Badgley recently opened up about the emotional challenges he faced while dating actress Blake Lively during their time on the hit TV series 'Gossip Girl'.
In a candid conversation on the popular podcast 'Call Her Daddy', the actor shared how being in a public relationship with his co-star affected his personal and professional life.
Badgley and Lively were in a relationship from 2007 to 2010, while they were also portraying a romantic couple—Dan and Serena—on the show. He admitted that it was difficult to separate real life from his on-screen character, as they were both deeply intertwined. He explained that working on a television series meant constantly being in the same environment, which made it harder to maintain boundaries between acting and reality.

The actor described that time as mentally exhausting, noting that he felt the pressure to always be “on,” both in front of the camera and in public. According to him, the fame that came with 'Gossip Girl' blurred the lines between his job and his real identity, making it hard to find space for himself. He felt as though he always had to prove his worth, whether in a relationship or outside of it.
Badgley also reflected on the celebrity culture that surrounded the show. He said that in interviews, he was constantly asked for dating advice, which added to the pressure of being seen as part of a high-profile couple. At that point in his life—he was in his early 20s—he admitted that he didn’t have the emotional maturity to manage

fame and relationships

effectively. He noted that many people around him didn’t have enough personal space either.
He shared that being associated so closely with his character made it hard for people to see him as a separate person. Whether on the street or at work, people saw him as “Dan,” not Penn. Despite all of this, he mentioned that after their breakup, he and Lively remained professional on set and were able to work together without problems.
Looking back, Badgley said that although the 'Gossip Girl' years were exciting and full of energy, there was also a darker side to that fame, which he only came to understand as he grew older.