We had to do a double take! (Picture: Gotham/GC Images/Jackson Lee)
One of Netflix’s biggest stars has debuted a dramatic hairstyle change – and we’re going to need a moment to get used to his new look.
The actor, who stars as the lead in the psychological thriller series You, was seen sporting the shaved do at the US Open as he watched Aryna Sabalenka win the women’s singles final in New York.
It is of course the one and only Penn Badgley, 37, whose buzzcut definitely had us doing a double take after ditching his signature curly locks.
When Gossip Girl first launched in 2007, Penn did sport a shaved head at the start.
However, given that was almost 20 years ago, thisnewtransformation has shocked fans beyond belief, with some admitting that they didn’t even recognise him.
On Instagram, @MaxiPansito cried out, ‘Noooo! his beautiful hair!’ completing the comment with a run of crying face emojis, revealing their devastation.
Gone are Penn’s signature luscious locks… (Picture: PA Photo/Netflix)
The new look that’s surprised everyone! (Picture: Gotham/GC Images)
Meanwhile, @Daga.Nikhil commented that Penn now reminded him of Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes, from the zombie apocalypse series The Walking Dead.
However, @Hafersin, noted that while Penn definitely looked different, he still – of course – retained the good looks: ‘What are you all on? He looks incredibly handsome with that haircut.’
It was another character from the actor’s past work, though, that drew most comparisons, with some fans saying Penn now resembled Dan Humphrey all over again.
The former Gossip Girl actor watched the womens’ singles final at the US Open(Picture: Gotham/GC Images)
Penn took fans all the way back to Gossip Girl season one (Picture: Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty Images)
Dan appeared in six of seven seasons in Gossip Girl, initially coming into the show with much shorter hair than he had in later seasons.
You fans never miss a trick, with @AmnaMalik.2003 saying: ‘WTF did he do to his hair? I’m getting season one Dan Humphrey vibes.’
And Amna wasn’t the only one who spotted the similarities, with @KieraLeighhx also saying: ‘Season one Dan is back!’
The new look is likely a result of Penn wrapping film on the final season of Netflix thriller You, which he’s been the star of for six years now.
It’s quite the change! (Picture:Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
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You follows Penn’s character Joe Goldberg, a bookstore owner and serial killer, who falls in love and develops extreme obsessions, even changing his identity in some cases.
The series debuted on the Lifetime channel in 2018 before Netflix picked the series up after just one season, eventually bringing the show to its conclusion next year.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the series currently has a 92% critic rating and a 74% audience rating, with the fifth and final season due in 2025.
A star of the screen for almost 30 years now, away from the cameras Penn has been married to British-American singer Domino Kirke, 40, since 2017.
The couple’s son was born in August 2020 – and during the run-up to the fourth season the John Tucker Must Die actor revealed that his son had recognised him on You.
Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Penn was asked about parenting and whether his offspring ‘knows his daddy plays a serial killer.’
Penn said: ‘There was recently a day when I was doing something sweet with him, on my lap. And then I sat on the remote. You wouldn’t think this, but it goes right to Netflix on the TV, and my face was right on the TV.’
Watch You on Netflix.
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