Overview

• Badgley revealed he struggled to separate his identity from his character, Dan Humphrey, during the six-season run of Gossip Girl.
• He described his off-screen relationship with Blake Lively, who played his on-screen love interest, as a challenge due to blurred personal and professional boundaries.
• The actor admitted he lacked the emotional maturity in his early 20s to differentiate his self-worth from public perceptions of his character.
• Badgley initially turned down the role of Dan Humphrey, citing burnout from years of child acting, but accepted due to financial necessity.
• He reflected on the pressures of celebrity culture during Gossip Girl’s peak and how it shaped his career and personal growth.