Actor Penn Badgley has given a raw and emotional account of how his marriage to Domino Kirke was pushed to the brink by the trauma of suffering two devastating miscarriages.
The Painful Impact of Pregnancy Loss
The 39-year-old star, known for his role in You, candidly detailed how the couple struggled to cope with the grief, which occurred before they later welcomed their three children. During an appearance on the Totally Booked podcast to discuss his new essay collection, Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss, and Coming-of-Age, Penn explained that the isolation they felt was a major factor.
He stated that this type of pregnancy loss is incredibly common, yet not spoken about enough in our culture. 'That sort of loss is really common, and we should — I don't know if talking about it alone is what we need. We at least need to start by talking about it more,' he said. 'And, of course, just to be clear, I'm speaking about miscarriages. They do happen all the time, and they can be really, really painful. Well, I would say they universally are painful. Maybe not everybody's fully allowed to feel that way.'
A Marriage Hanging in the Balance
In an extract from his book, Penn shared a 'dreadful memory' that has stayed with him from that difficult period. He revealed that the second miscarriage marked a time when it felt like the cycle of loss would never end, placing immense strain on their relationship.
'This was our second loss together. A time when it did not feel as though the cycle would break,' Penn wrote. 'My wife and I neared separation as many do after losses like that. Largely because we felt so isolated in a culture that doesn't talk much about these things or know how to support those going through it.'
He described the lasting image of seeing their 'still baby' in a sonogram as a memory he cannot shake, one that resurfaces every time they go for a scan now. He emphasised that this was a critical inflection point, especially for him, as he had no biological children at the time, and for Domino, who already had a son from a previous relationship.
Finding Hope and a Growing Family
Despite nearly giving in to the 'gravity' of separation, the couple persevered. Penn joyfully noted that they now have three biological children together—their firstborn son arrived in 2020, followed by twin boys earlier this year. The star is also a stepfather to Domino's 16-year-old son, Cassius.
Penn joked that he now feels he is 'drowning in children,' which makes it harder to connect with the profound sense of loss they once experienced. 'So, it's harder to get in touch with that feeling of loss because my cup truly runneth over,' he shared.
Domino Kirke, a doula, had previously spoken about her experience with pregnancy after loss in 2020. She shared on Instagram that after two consecutive miscarriages, they were ready to stop trying, as she had lost trust in her own body. Her perspective as a birth attendant made navigating her own personal loss an even more complex emotional challenge.
