President Zelenskyy Thanks Sean Penn for Visiting Ukraine While Skipping the Oscars
Sean Penn added a third Academy Award to his storied career, taking home the trophy for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars. He was recognized for his commanding performance as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw in Paul Thomas Anderson’s multi-generational political epic, One Battle After Another.
Despite the high-profile win, Penn’s seat at the Dolby Theatre remained empty during the March 15 ceremony, as the actor chose to travel to Ukraine for a high-level meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy confirmed the actor’s whereabouts by sharing a photo of their meeting on social media, expressing deep gratitude for Penn’s unwavering commitment to the nation. Sean, thanks to you, we know what a true friend of Ukraine is, the president wrote.
You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war. This is still true today. And we know that you will continue to stand with our country and our people. The award was presented by last year’s winner, Kieran Culkin, who accepted the statuette on Penn’s behalf with a touch of dry humor.
Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening — or didn’t want to. So I’ll be accepting the award on his behalf, Culkin told the audience. Penn, who previously won Best Actor for Mystic River and Milk, has been a notable absentee throughout this year’s awards circuit, having also skipped the BAFTAs and the Actor Awards despite winning at both.
Sean, thanks to you, we know what a true friend of Ukraine is.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 16, 2026
You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war.
This is still true today.
And we know that you will continue to stand with our country and our people. pic.twitter.com/wGneO1rqJI
His absence from the spotlight is consistent with his recent reflections on the intersection of his professional and humanitarian work. During a discussion at the Lumiere Film Festival, Penn explained that his impulses as a filmmaker and an activist are fundamentally the same.
I don’t know that I differentiate between getting up in the morning and going to my workshop and building a piece of furniture from going to a movie set and acting or directing a movie, he noted. He emphasized that his goal is always to provide “value added” to a situation, though he admitted it requires constant assessment of the risks involved.
Following his historic third Oscar win, Penn is reportedly shifting his focus back to the director’s chair. He is currently preparing to direct an untitled feature film scheduled to begin shooting in the summer of this year, which will star Tom Hardy in the lead role.
This project marks Penn’s first directorial effort since the 2021 drama Flag Day, and it is one of the most anticipated collaborations in the industry given the intense creative styles of both men.
One Battle After Another was the big winner of the night, securing a total of six Oscars, including Best Picture and a first-ever Best Director win for Paul Thomas Anderson. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a former revolutionary and features an ensemble that includes Benicio del Toro and Teyana Taylor.
The production has been lauded for its ambitious scale and its sharp, relevant commentary on the complexities of modern political movements. As Penn continues to balance his cinematic achievements with his active role in global NGOs, his legacy as one of Hollywood’s most fearless and unpredictable figures remains secure.
His documentary Superpower, which chronicled the early days of the invasion of Ukraine and his burgeoning friendship with Zelenskyy, continues to be a central part of his public identity as an artist-activist. Whether he is building furniture in his workshop or documenting history on the front lines, Penn remains a singular force in contemporary culture.
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