‘YOU’ Actor Penn Badgley Shares He Keeps Holy Quran on His Nightstand

Web Desk

03 May, 2025 14:10

‘YOU’ Actor Penn Badgley Shares He Keeps Holy Quran on His Nightstand

Hollywood star Penn Badgley, known for his roles in You and Gossip Girl, recently gave fans a rare look into his personal and spiritual life — revealing a routine grounded in faith, reflection, and daily prayer.

In a chat with USA TODAY’s The Essentials, Badgley shared how he finds balance while playing intense roles like Joe Goldberg. Among the books on his nightstand, one stands out: “Honestly, on my nightstand I have the Quran, which sometimes I’ll meditate on a passage from,” he revealed. He also mentioned his interest in the classic Dracula, saying, “It’s a good book.”

Beyond reading, Badgley draws strength from a daily spiritual practice rooted in the Baháʼí Faith. Though his mornings are often hectic with work and parenting duties — “I have a comical, total bankruptcy of a morning routine because of children and work,” he joked — there’s one ritual he never skips.

“But here’s the one thing I have. If I get this, it’s worth all of the things,” he said, referring to a specific Baháʼí prayer. “There’s this particular prayer within the Baháʼí Writings called the long obligatory prayer. It takes about 15 minutes to say. I have it memorized… I timed it: If I say it extremely fast, I can say it in seven minutes. And then meditate like two minutes after.”

On calmer days, Penn Badgley takes more time: “I can take 15 to 20 minutes… it just makes such a difference, because it orients me to remember… the purpose and nature of life – or at least a fulfilling life, an enriching one.”