Penn Badgley

Penn: (On playing the outsider in Gossip Girl) What's great about Dan, on one hand, is that he's the most relatable, because he's the "everyguy." But he's also sort of on a moral high ground, which, not that it can get boring but it's more fun to explore the darker side of a character. I really like the scenes where I'm able to work with his temper a little bit and do something a little more exciting.

Penn: (Advice he wished he was given growing up) I wish I had known that vulnerability is universal for everyone, regardless of how cool or not cool they are. You have such a heightened awareness of yourself, so even small things seem life-changing- a bad day turns into, Oh my gosh, my life is over. If I were still a teen, I would want to hear: "It's okay. Take a deep breath and move on."

Penn: One thing is that music is really my number one creative passion. I play piano and guitar, and I write music as well. But I'd never do it professionally. Maybe later in my life, I'll have the money to make an album on my own and do whatever I want, but until then I'll just keep it for me. I did once write a song for a girl. I think it was a really romantic gesture- and I think it worked!

Penn: When you're wet and your clothes cling to you, you feel more exposed, almost more naked than naked. Everything is more romantic by water. Everyone remembers his or her first kiss in the pool, in the rain.

Penn: (on his male fans) A lot of times [a male fan] will come up, you know, and it will just be a guy. And he'll be like, 'Yeah, dude, my wife loves the show. She'd be so excited if she knew I met you.' And it's always like, through his wife. And then a lot of times, as the night goes on, he'll have a couple more drinks in him, he'll be like, 'Dude, you know what? I love the show too! I really do! I love it so much! Dude, I cannot believe…' and he will go on and on about the story lines...

Penn: (on being a celebrity) I want to do film. I want to be an actor- I don't want to be a celebrity. They are two different things, and people have forgotten that they are different. Because if you are one, you can be generally the other. Like if you are a celebrity, then anyone will let you be in a film or on a TV show, and if you're an actor, chances are if you are successful, you are becoming a celebrity.

Penn: (on acting in New York City) It's incredible to be young and live here and not have to clean up your dorm room.

Penn: (on getting recognized) Actually, multiple times a day. If I go out in the city, chances are it's going to happen, especially if Blake [Lively] and I are together. We have this Serena and Dan complex going, so people freak out if they see the two of us.

Penn: (on getting along with his "Gossip Girl" castmates) We actually get along incredibly well. We're all great friends. I was actually just texting Blake. We're really close. In fact, one of the things I'm most thankful for in this show, the whole experience has been the friendships. That's no shit. That's no lie. (Laughs)

Penn: (on relating to his "Gossip Girl" character Dan) I think everybody relates to Dan. He's the most easily relatable because he's the most real. He's the most vulnerable... He lives the most normal life. He's the most regular.

Penn: (on his "Gossip Girl" character Dan being compared to Adam Brody's character Seth of "The OC") People are probably going to see the similarities at any chance they can and be like "oh, he's just trying to be Adam Brody." I've already gotten that in a lot of the reviews, but I think if you pay a little more attention, I'm actually doing something very different.

Penn: (on the popularity of "Gossip Girl") I'll get mobbed by literally 40 school girls. It's like being a full fledged star, and that's surreal.

Penn: (on studying acting) I imagine I'll study at some point with somebody, as a craft, I'm still grappling with it. It's constantly evolving.

Penn: (on making his "Gossip Girl" character Dan gay) I don't think network TV really has the balls to make one of their [teenage] series' regulars gay. Let's say the show builds up to become a big hit, then I think they'd maybe explore it in year three or four. It would be an interesting thing to do. It could bring in a whole different demographic.

Penn: (on meeting Tina Fey) I actually saw her in the elevator once. And I was such a nerd. I was just like, (whispering and making pointing motions) "It's Tina Fey."

Penn: I'm a pretty determined guy. Once I set my mind on something, I make it happen.

Penn: Whether or not I'm successful, I want to do this for the rest of my life.