ARTICLE:
Title: 'Second Chance'
Written by: Gillian Cumming
Published in: tvguide from 'The Sunday Mail' March 9. Most widely available in Queensland, Australia.
Penn Badgley is living the Hollywood version of the American dream. Barely 16, he has the lead role in apopular sitcom that has just been renewed in the US and his growing band of fans have created a website that describes the handsome teen as "eye candy".
Only seven years ago Penn knew nothing about acting - or the limelight. He started out in the school plays at his hometown of Seattle then moved into community theatre and radio.
Next thing he had an agent, then four years ago relocated to Los Angeles, with his mum, in search of "the big break".
Penn's dream began to turn to reality when he landed a part in the sitcome Will & Grace followed by day-time soapie The Young and the Restless.
Everything really fell into place when last year he scored the lead in Do Over. Now he's never looking back.
When a freak accident sends Penn's character Joel in Do Over back in time 20 years to the early 1980s he finds himself walking in shoes already well-worn, returning to his first year in high school to relive life as a 14-year-old - even though Joel is actually 34.
Because he knows the future, Joel feels empowered to influence what happens to himself, his family and friends - even world events.
"I just loved the script and the character who had this ability to put 20/20 hindsight to practical use," he says.
"It still doesn't feel like work all the time. It's more like play time."
Still, Penn has yet to get used to the fame game.
"I've actually only recently found out that fans have created a webpage," he says, still astonished by the find.
What he likes best about Do Over is the strong moral message that comes through every episode.
"Joel always gets the chance to take advantage of a situation and in the end he makes the moral choice.
"He's trying to make himself a better person and keep his parents together (they'd split by the time his character was adult before the weird backflip in time).
"He wants to make the wrongs right again."
Penn says he'd take up an opportunity to live his life again.
"Definately. I'd take that chance. It's sort of cool. I think everyone wants to be able to do something over - something they wish hadn't happened.
"I can think of several instances where I would want to - something that was really embarassing."
He particularly likes how his Joel character "totally changes his relationship with his dad."
"His dad's soft underbelly is exposed."
And of the '80s, the period when the series is set, Penn had this to say: "It seems liek a great time - a great era - but the things I don't like about it is the clothes. Everything else - the music is fine - I really really enjoy it."
As for the future, Penn is aiming high.
"I definately want to do this for the rest of my life," he said.
"In 20 years I would like to see myself as an established actor with a reputation for making good choices."
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