The 98th Academy Awards featured a notable absence when Sean Penn, the recipient of the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in One Battle After Another, did not attend the ceremony. Presenter Kieran Culkin’s light-hearted remarks during the award presentation led many to speculate about Penn’s whereabouts, given that he was favored to win.
Hours after the ceremony, clarity emerged as a video surfaced showing Penn arriving in Kyiv. Thousands of miles from the festivities at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, the actor made the trip to meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A video shared by Ukraine’s state railway operator revealed Penn stepping out of a train carriage, indicating that the details of his visit were kept confidential until the last moment. The railway operator announced on social media, “Now we can say it officially: Sean Penn chose Ukraine over the Oscars!”
During his visit, President Zelenskyy shared a photograph of his meeting with the actor at the presidential office. The image featured Zelenskyy in his customary black attire engaging with Penn, who opted for a casual look in a T-shirt and jeans. While specifics of their discussion remained undisclosed, Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation on Telegram, acknowledging Penn’s unwavering support for Ukraine since the onset of the full-scale war.
Kyiv is currently fortified due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, and Sean Penn has previously visited Ukraine multiple times over the last two years. Known for his advocacy, the actor produced a documentary on Russia’s invasion that debuted in February 2023. Additionally, in 2022, he lent one of his Oscar statuettes to Zelenskyy, recognizing their shared backgrounds in the arts.
At the Oscars, Penn marked a significant milestone in his career by becoming only the fourth male actor to secure three Academy Awards for acting. His latest win for Best Supporting Actor was awarded for portraying a troubled army Colonel in One Battle After Another. This achievement aligns him with renowned actors Daniel Day-Lewis, Jack Nicholson, and Walter Brennan, all of whom have three acting Oscars. The record for the most acting Oscars remains with Katharine Hepburn, who won four.
The juxtaposition of his Oscar triumph against the backdrop of his commitment to Ukraine showcases Penn’s dedication to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and his role as an advocate for the country amidst a challenging geopolitical landscape.