NEED TO KNOW
Sean Penn has found love again with model Valeria Nicov.
The One Battle After Another actor and Nicov debuted their relationship at the Marrakech International Film Festival in November 2024 — just months after Page Six shared photos of the pair vacationing in Spain.
Penn’s relationship came as a surprise to fans, considering the two-time Academy Award winner told The New York Times in June 2024 that he was content with being single and focused on steering clear of unnecessary drama in relationships.
“I’m just free,” he said at the time. “If I’m going to be in a relationship, I’m still going to be free.”
Since taking their romance public, Nicov has accompanied Penn to several high-profile events. Most recently, the couple supported Bono and his documentary at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, followed by an appearance at the Lumière Festival in October, where Penn was the official guest of honor.
So, who is Sean Penn’s girlfriend? Here’s everything to know about Valeria Nicov and her relationship with the actor.
She’s an actress and a model
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According to Nicov’s Instagram bio, she works as an actress and a model. She’s appeared on Emily in Paris and in French TV shows like Mike and Don’t Worry About the Kids. According to her talent agency bio, she studied acting at both the RADA Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Cours Florent.
As a model, Nicov is represented by Premium Models and has posed for brands like Carolina Herrera, Dada Sport and Bonanza. She can also box and play piano.
They were first linked in September 2024
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Page Six reported in early September 2024 that Penn had been spotted with Nicov while out in Madrid. The couple were photographed kissing and walking hand-in-hand.
The following month, Nicov and Penn were seen together at the Los Angeles Airport, according to photos obtained by Page Six.
Penn and Nicov made their red carpet debut in November 2024
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After a few run-ins with the paparazzi, the couple officially stepped out together for the first time in November 2024. They walked the red carpet at the 21st Marrakech International Film Festival in Morocco, where Penn was being honored with a career achievement award, per the Associated Press.
She loves riding horses
In addition to boxing and yoga, Nicov’s professional résumé also lists equitation, the art of horsemanship and horseback riding, as one of her skills. On her Instagram, she’s shared photos of her riding horses in photo shoots for Carolina Herrera as well as other brands.
“Riding the dream,” the model captioned a collection of images from her equestrian-themed shoot with Dada Sports in Italy in 2023.
She speaks four languages
Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty
Nicov is multilingual. According to her talent agency bio, she can speak French, English, Spanish and Russian.
The model has captioned her Instagram photos in multiple languages, bouncing back and forth between them and occasionally straying into other languages that aren’t listed on her résumé. In 2023, she captioned a carousel of images, “Tutto va bene,” an Italian phrase that translates to “everything is fine.”
She’s friends with Emily in Paris star Camille Razat
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In addition to her photo shoots and travels, Nicov also shares pictures of her friends on Instagram — which includes Emily in Paris star Camille Razat. The model called the actress “ma femme,” a French phrase that translates to “my wife,” in an Instagram caption in 2022 and shared a selfie of her leaning on Razat’s shoulder in 2023.
The friends have also worked together. Razat and Nicov were photographed in 2018 at the Paris premiere for Paris Pigalle, a French comedy they both acted in. Nicov also made a brief cameo in Emily in Paris as a bartender.
Penn spoke about not having his “heart broken by romance again” before going public with Nicov
Antoine Flament/WireImage
Prior to stepping out with Nicov, Penn told The New York Times in June 2024 that he wasn’t in a serious relationship and was “thrilled every day” to be single at the time. He added that if he was going to be with someone again, he would still need to feel “free” — any romantic drama or visits from “the trauma gods” were not welcome.
“I’m not going to be hurting,” the Oscar winner said. “I don’t sense I’ll have my heart broken by romance again.”
Penn was previously married to Madonna from 1985 to 1989, Robin Wright from 1996 to 2010 and Australian actress Leila George from 2020 to 2022. He has also been linked to Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson and actress Olga Korotyayeva.
