Julia Roberts and Sean Penn Bond Over Mutual Affection for Her Husband Danny Moder
Julia Roberts and Sean Penn came together for the 23rd season of Variety & CNN’s Actors on Actors.
Roberts, 58, and Penn, 65, were featured on the Saturday, December 6, episode of the series. They discussed their respective roles in After the Hunt and One Battle After Another, along with their broader career trajectories.
Reflecting on their initial encounter, Penn stated, “My mind goes back to New York—the Mayflower Hotel, while filming The Pope of Greenwich Village.” He added, “You were Eric’s younger sister. I had heard mentions of you, but you must have still been in your teens.”
Penn co-starred with Julia’s elder brother, actor Eric Roberts, in the 1984 film The Pope of Greenwich Village.
Julia replied with a jest, “Yes. I still identify that way.”
Julia Roberts Praises Husband Danny as Source of 'Joy'
The connection between Julia and Penn extends beyond their long-standing friendship and her sibling, also encompassing Julia’s husband, Danny Moder.
Penn expressed admiration, saying, “I believe you are extraordinary.” He added, “My mother would always brighten up in your presence, and you also happen to have this wonderful husband, who I consider my favorite cinematographer.”
Julia lightly quipped that both she and Penn share a “mutual affection” for Moder, 56.
Penn continued, “I recall him mentioning that you were filming a movie where Danny was operating a handheld camera.” He concluded by sharing the description: “He’s intently focused on his job, tucked away in a corner, [and] it was described as, ‘the sexiest sight imaginable.'”
The two actors also previously collaborated on the 2022 Starz miniseries Gaslit, in which they depicted the married couple Martha and John Mitchell.
“Sean Penn genuinely represents the pinnacle of acting,” Julia shared with Entertainment Weekly in April 2022. “He approached the role with his characteristic intensity. Witnessing his transformation and deep embodiment of John Mitchell, and discussing the Mitchells’ dynamic with him, proved exhilarating for me.”
From ‘Pretty Woman’ to ‘Ticket to Paradise’: Julia Roberts’ Career Retrospective
The Steel Magnolias star elaborated on their commitment to accurately depict the real-life couple from the Watergate scandal. Julia stated, “Sean and I were both invested in uncovering the small details of their relationship to illustrate that these two individuals truly loved each other.”
She added, “It felt almost as if we played two versions of ourselves: our characters interacting when alone, and then our characters when surrounded by others. The achievements he made were quite remarkable. I found myself in constant admiration.”
Creator Robbie Pickering similarly commended Penn’s portrayal in the series, which garnered him a nomination for Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Limited or Anthology Series at the Hollywood Critics Association Awards.
“In my view, the often-overlooked quality of any significant Sean Penn performance is his capacity for vulnerability and humanity,” Pickering remarked. “I was lucky that Sean Penn genuinely sought to express the character’s kindness and human nature, alongside his darker side.”
Prolific Actor-Director Collaborations
Roberts and Penn had maintained a friendship for decades prior to their joint project, Gaslit.
Roberts shared with Entertainment Tonight in April 2022, “Collaborating with a pre-existing friend involves a degree of risk, as the dynamic or process remains unknown.” Penn responded, “There’s the element of working with a cherished friend and admired actress and talent. I find that working alongside someone … who elevates your standards in terms of the subject matter and professional dedication to that material defines the experience of working with Julia.”
To fully embody his character for the series, Penn underwent a significant physical transformation, which required the use of prosthetic hair and makeup.
Julia explained, “He had to wear [the prosthetics] and ensure they felt authentic.” She added, “His patience was remarkable. He never showed discomfort or expressed a desire to remove it. He remained fully engaged at all times.”
