Sean Penn

Sean Penn is a powerhouse film performer capable of intensely moving work, who has gone from strength to strength during a colourful film career, and who has drawn much media attention for his stormy private life and political viewpoints.

Sean Justin Penn was born in Los Angeles, California, the second son of actress Eileen Ryan (née Annucci) and director, actor, and writer Leo Penn. His brother was actor Chris Penn. His father was from a Lithuanian Jewish/Russian Jewish family, and his mother is of half Italian and half Irish descent.

Penn first appeared in roles as strong-headed or unruly youths such as the military cadet defending his academy against closure in O Clarim da Revolta (1981), then as fast-talking surfer stoner Jeff Spicoli in Viver Depressa (1982).

Fans and critics were enthused about his obvious talent and he next contributed a stellar performance alongside Timothy Hutton in the Cold War spy thriller O Jogo do Falcão (1985), followed by a teaming with icy Christopher Walken in the chilling Homens à Queima-Roupa (1986). The youthful Sean then paired up with his then wife, pop diva Madonna in the woeful, and painful, Xangai (1986), which was savaged by the critics, but Sean bounced back with a great job as a hot-headed young cop in Los Angeles a Ferro e Fogo (1988), gave another searing performance as a US soldier in Vietnam committing atrocities in Corações de Aço (1989) and appeared alongside Robert De Niro in the uneven comedy Ninguém É Santo (1989). However, the 1990s was the decade in which Sean really got noticed by critics as a mature, versatile and accomplished actor, with a string of dynamic performances in first-class films.

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