Internet shocked by A-lister Sean Penn’s new appearance

“Good god, what happened?” Hundreds of people have commented on this Oscar-winner’s latest interview, shocked by his new appearance.

Actor Sean Penn’s appearance in a new interview has shocked the internet, with fans asking why he suddenly looks so different.

Penn, 64, is the latest guest on broadcaster Louis Theroux’s podcast, but clips from the episode teased on social media have been derailed by the overwhelming reaction to Penn’s scruffy appearance.

The actor appears on the podcast bearded, his hair white and shaggy, and with a noticeable red scab on his nose and deep lines across his face.

“Good god, what happened to Sean Penn?” read one top-rated comment.

Another quipped that someone had “dehydrated” the Oscar-winning actor.

“I’m shocked at his appearance. What the heck?” one person asked, while another remarked the actor looked “about 80” and presented a cautionary tale in wearing Factor-50 sunscreen.

Sean Penn on Louis Theroux’s podcast this week.

Another went even further: “Sean Penn went from 50 to 90 years old in two years,” they commented.

While the reactions are somewhat uncharitable, there’s no denying Penn’s new look is in stark contrast to how he fronted up to the 2023 Academy Awards just two years ago, looking movie star suave with dark hair, a tan and a suit.

Penn in January 2023. Picture: Getty

… and his new podcast appearance.

Penn has a 34-year age gap with his latest girlfriend, actress and model Valeria Nicov, 30.

The couple made their red carpet debut at the Marrakech International Film Festival last November.

Penn, who was previously married to actress Robin Wright, has two adult children, Dylan, 33, who is three years older than his girlfriend, and his son Hopper, 30, who is the same age.

Penn and girlfriend Valeria Nicov made their red carpet debut in November. Picture: AFP

He was also briefly married to Madonna in the eighties and recently split from his third wife, 33-year-old Australian actress Leila George.

She is the daughter of Penn’s acting contemporaries Vincent D’Onofrio and Greta Scacchi, both 65.

A then-single Penn opened up about his thoughts on romance in an interview with the New York Times published in June last year.

“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,” he told the publication.

Originally published as Internet shocked by A-lister Sean Penn’s new appearance