Sean Penn Skips Oscars Amid Ukraine Advocacy

The actor is nominated for his performance in "One Battle After Another" but did not attend the ceremony.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:20am

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Sean Penn, a two-time Oscar winner, did not attend the 2026 Academy Awards ceremony despite being nominated for his performance in the film "One Battle After Another." Penn, who has been outspoken about his support for Ukraine, has been drawn to films that grapple with world politics. In 2022, he gave one of his Oscar statuettes to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Why it matters

Penn's absence from the Oscars ceremony is notable given his history of political activism and his nomination for a film that explores themes of global conflict. His decision to skip the event highlights the actor's continued focus on issues like the war in Ukraine rather than traditional Hollywood events.

The details

In "One Battle After Another," Penn plays the antagonist Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw. The actor revealed that the last time he "enjoyed the work" was 18 years ago when he did "Milk." However, he said he's now "in a stage of liking acting" due to the current film. Penn has also been drawn to films that grapple with world politics, stating that "the responsibility of the artist is to know the time within which he lived."

  • Penn gave one of his Oscar statuettes to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in 2022.
  • Penn was nominated for his performance in "One Battle After Another" at the 2026 Academy Awards ceremony.

The players

Sean Penn

A two-time Oscar-winning actor who is nominated this year for his performance in "One Battle After Another." Penn has been outspoken about his support for Ukraine and has been drawn to films that grapple with world politics.

Volodymyr Zelensky

The president of Ukraine, to whom Penn gave one of his Oscar statuettes in 2022.

Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw

The antagonist character that Penn plays in the film "One Battle After Another."

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What they’re saying

“Eighteen years ago, when I did Milk, was the last time that I enjoyed the work. But you want to be participating in something that is of your current interest, and with people who are surprising. Because of Paul's movie, I'm in a stage of liking acting. But I've always got carpentry to fall back on. And surfing.”

— Sean Penn

“I told him to keep it and bring it to Malibu after all this is over and his country is safe.”

— Sean Penn

“The responsibility of the artist is to know the time within which he lived. So somebody can make a period film, but in doing that, the good ones reflect something very current. Not modernizing it, but there's something that is rhyming in history.”

— Sean Penn

What’s next

Penn is set to star in an upcoming film with actor Tom Hardy, though he said he's "not looking for anything next" and is currently focused on directing.

The takeaway

Sean Penn's absence from the Oscars ceremony, despite his nomination, underscores the actor's continued commitment to political advocacy and global issues like the war in Ukraine over traditional Hollywood events. His decision to skip the ceremony highlights the evolving role of artists in addressing pressing world affairs.