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Who is Valeria Nicov? Sean Penn's girlfriend with 35 years age gap sparks buzz after Golden Globes appearance

Sean Penn, who turned heads, as he was seen smoking inside during the Golden Globes, caused more chatter on being photographed with girlfriend Valeria Nicov. 

Published on: Jan 18, 2026 10:27 AM IST
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Sean Penn delivered a fantastic performance as Colonel Lockjaw in Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another. However, that is not why the actor caused a buzz during the Golden Globes. Penn turned heads as he was photographed smoking inside.

Sean Penn seen with girlfriend Valeria Nicov. (X/@modernhistory)
Sean Penn seen with girlfriend Valeria Nicov. (X/@modernhistory)

The Milk actor kept the chatter going when he was later photographed with girlfriend Valeria Nicov, who's 35 years younger to him. Several photos and videos of Penn and Nicov were circulated on social media. Amid the buzz, here's everything to know about Valeria Nicov.

Who is Valeria Nicov?

Valeria Nicov and Sean Penn were reportedly first spotted together in Madrid in 2024, as per Page Six. They were seen kissing and holding hands. Two months later, the couple made their red carpet debut together, at the 21st Marrakech International Film Festival, where Valeria opted for a strapless black gown with a black cape.

Also Read | Sean Penn on finally teaming with Leonardo DiCaprio in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another: ‘I love him’

Nicov is reportedly 30 years old, while Penn is 65. Photos of Penn and Nicov also showed the stark height difference between the two, leading many to wonder how tall the veteran actor's girlfriend was. As per IMDb, Nicov is 5′ 9¾″ (1.77 m).

Another person shared a video edit of the two together and wrote “Sean Penn with his girlfriend who is 35 years younger! People are starting to notice something that stands out.”

Nicov is from Chisinau, Moldova and she studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) and Cours Florent. She's best known for her roles in Emily in Paris, where she plays a bartender, and for French television shows like Don't Worry About the Kids, and Mike.

As per her talent agency bio, Nicov speaks French, English, Spanish, and Russian fluently. She can reportedly play the piano and is an experienced horse rider as well. Nicov has also made a name for herself as a model and is signed with Premium Models, a Paris-based agency. She's worked with brands like Dada Sport, Carolina Herrera, and Bonanza.

  • Shuvrajit Das Biswas
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shuvrajit Das Biswas

    Shuvrajit has over seven years of experience covering US, India, and world news. An English Literature postgraduate from Jadavpur University, Shuvrajit started off covering entertainment and gaming. There were brief periods away from the media industry, with short stints in ed-tech and academic editing. However, the newsroom beckoned and over the last few jobs, Shuvrajit has exceedingly focused on team functioning as well, including tracking news and assigning tasks, working on detailed coverage plans, and creating immersive and data-driven stories. In his time as a digital journalist, he has covered a Lok Sabha election, multiple state elections, and Union Budgets. For work, Shuvrajit enjoys dabbling with data visualization, editing tools, and AI chatbots. Outside work, he can be found doomscrolling or cheering on his football team.Read More

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