Sean Penn says he is ‘aware’ he’s ‘not good with humans’ as he opens up about difficult reputation

Actor has been engaged in numerous public disputes over the years

Sean Penn attends the 7th Annual Sean Penn & Friends (Getty Images)

Sean Penn has said he’s “aware” he can be “difficult to like from afar” in a new interview where he speaks candidly about his reputation in the film industry.

The actor has been involved in various public disputes over the years. In 2003, he sued producer Steve Bing, accusing him of bringing back Hollywood blacklisting by firing him from a film for his anti-war views. During his wedding to Madonna in 1985, he reportedly fired a gun at press helicopters. He also once told a journalist he hoped his critics would "die screaming of rectal cancer".

When Penn accepted the best actor award for Milk at the 2009 Academy Awards, he alluded to his difficult reputation, saying: “I did not expect this… and I want it to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me, often.”

In a new interview with SiriusXM DJ Howard Stern, he said: “There’ve been several times I’ve worked with directors who I felt might have found a different job description, and perhaps weren’t the storytellers that their initial meetings with each of us actors might have indicated.

“Actors are kind of canaries in the coalmine emotionally, and you have to go to whatever place is necessary inside yourself. If you don’t have somebody there who at least respects that – most of what I was referring to is that the arrogance goes further than charm.

“I am aware that I can be a difficult person to like from afar, often. I sometimes think I have a great love affair with humanity but not too good with humans.”

Penn can next be seen in the thriller Flag Day alongside Katheryn Winnick and Josh Brolin, which he also directed.