Actor Sean Penn Chooses Ukraine Over the Oscars and Is Called a True Friend by Zelenskyy
Sean Penn has won his third Academy Award, taking home the trophy for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another.
Despite the win, Penn did not attend the Oscars on March 15, choosing instead to travel to Ukraine for a high-level meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy shared a photo of the meeting on social media and praised Penn for his support, writing, “Sean, thanks to you, we know what a true friend of Ukraine is.
You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war. This is still true today. And we know that you will continue to stand with our country and our people.” The award was accepted on Penn’s behalf by last year’s Oscar winner Kieran Culkin, who joked to the audience, “Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening — or didn’t want to.”
Penn had previously won Best Actor Oscars for Mystic River and Milk, but this year, he skipped several major award ceremonies, including the BAFTAs and the Actor Awards, even though he had won at both.
Sean, thanks to you, we know what a true friend of Ukraine is.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 16, 2026
You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war.
This is still true today.
And we know that you will continue to stand with our country and our people. pic.twitter.com/wGneO1rqJI
Penn has recently spoken about how his work as a filmmaker and his humanitarian efforts are connected. At the Lumiere Film Festival, he said, “I don’t know that I differentiate between getting up in the morning and going to my workshop and building a piece of furniture from going to a movie set and acting or directing a movie.”
He explained that his goal is always to “provide value added” in whatever he does, even if it comes with risks. After winning his third Oscar, Penn is turning his attention back to directing.
He is set to direct an untitled feature film starring Tom Hardy, scheduled to start shooting this summer. This will be his first movie as a director since 2021’s Flag Day. Industry insiders are excited about the collaboration because of both Penn and Hardy’s strong creative styles.
One Battle After Another was one of the biggest winners of the night, taking home six Oscars, including Best Picture and a first-ever Best Director win for Paul Thomas Anderson. The film also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, and Teyana Taylor and has been praised for its large scale and sharp commentary on modern political movements.
Alongside his acting, Penn continues his work with global humanitarian efforts. His documentary Superpower, which covers the early days of the invasion of Ukraine and his friendship with Zelenskyy, has become a central part of his public image as both an artist and an activist.
Whether he is directing, acting, documenting history, or even building furniture in his workshop, Sean Penn continues to stand out as one of Hollywood’s most unique and fearless figures.
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