In an exclusive interview with The New York Times, Penn opened up about how his perspective on romance has evolved over the years. Penn shared that he values freedom in relationships and refuses to feel trapped. He expressed confidence that he wouldn’t be heartbroken by romance again, despite going through three marriages.
Penn’s first marriage was to Madonna, lasting from 1985 to 1989. In 1996, he married Robin Wright, with whom he shares two children. They divorced in 2010. His third marriage was to Australian actor Leila George in 2020, but they finalized their divorce in 2022. Penn admitted that he feels relieved not being in a committed relationship at the moment.
Reflecting on past relationships, Penn recalled feeling drained by the constant need to please the other person. He mentioned instances when the relationship felt one-sided, with his efforts to make them happy overlooked. Penn explained how being in relationships that included unnecessary drama negatively affected his well-being, likening it to an assault on his heart and brain.
Penn shared that he has moved past the stage of enjoying drama in romance and now values simplicity and peace. He emphasized that if any unnecessary drama arises in a relationship, his feelings for the person would diminish. Despite societal pressures around being single, research shows that there are significant mental and physical benefits to being unattached, such as independence and freedom.
A 2022 Pew Research Center survey highlighted that 30% of individuals over 50 are single. Among all single adults surveyed, 57% mentioned they were not actively seeking a relationship. Therapist Bonnie Scott noted that single individuals can make decisions independently, which leads to increased freedom. Requests for comments from Penn’s representative outside regular business hours were not immediately answered.
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