Sean Penn and his younger girlfriend, Valeria Nicov, 30, were spotted holding hands on a rare public outing in Santa Monica, California. The unlikely couple was seen walking together while shopping, with Nicov beaming as she chatted with Penn. Despite the cozy atmosphere, Penn appeared to be smoking using one of his hands.
The actor, 65, looked stylish in a white button-up shirt, blue blazer, and black pants, while Nicov opted for an all-black outfit consisting of a sweater, slacks, and coat. She accessorized with sunglasses and a shoulder purse.
This outing comes after Penn attended the 2026 Golden Globes over the weekend, where he was seen lighting up during a tableside cigarette break alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. It's worth noting that Nicov is significantly younger than Penn, and the couple has kept their relationship relatively private until now.
Penn and Nicov have been dating since 2024, and their romance has been on again, off again since being spotted locking lips in Madrid last September. They made their red carpet debut at the Marrakech International Film Festival that November and have rarely been seen together in public. Penn has had a string of high-profile marriages, including to Madonna, Robin Wright, and Leila George.
As for Nicov's acting career, she seems to be enjoying her time with Penn, taking breaks from work to spend time with him. Meanwhile, Penn is still active in the film industry, having been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 2025 Paul Thomas Anderson-directed film "One Battle After Another."
The actor, 65, looked stylish in a white button-up shirt, blue blazer, and black pants, while Nicov opted for an all-black outfit consisting of a sweater, slacks, and coat. She accessorized with sunglasses and a shoulder purse.
This outing comes after Penn attended the 2026 Golden Globes over the weekend, where he was seen lighting up during a tableside cigarette break alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. It's worth noting that Nicov is significantly younger than Penn, and the couple has kept their relationship relatively private until now.
Penn and Nicov have been dating since 2024, and their romance has been on again, off again since being spotted locking lips in Madrid last September. They made their red carpet debut at the Marrakech International Film Festival that November and have rarely been seen together in public. Penn has had a string of high-profile marriages, including to Madonna, Robin Wright, and Leila George.
As for Nicov's acting career, she seems to be enjoying her time with Penn, taking breaks from work to spend time with him. Meanwhile, Penn is still active in the film industry, having been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 2025 Paul Thomas Anderson-directed film "One Battle After Another."
but I think Sean Penn's smoking in public is kinda cool? Like, he's 65 and still doing his own thing, you feel? 
But at the same time, isn't it a bit weird for someone his age to be holding hands with someone half his age? 
And what's up with Nicov being so young and Penn having all these high-profile marriages in the past? Is she just using him for his fame or something? 
Maybe I'm just reading too much into it, but it seems like a pretty big age gap... or am I being unfair? 
i love how casual yet put-together she was on their santa monica outing - no fancy dresses or accessories needed, just her and sean having a chill day out. and can we talk about the power couple vibes they were giving off? sean's always been known for his brooding actor persona, but with nicov by his side, he looks like a different person 
all that smooching at the marrakech international film festival was so swoony too... i wonder what's next for these two? maybe they'll make a red carpet debut together soon? 
anyway, i'm glad they're out and about together, nicov looks adorbs in her outfit. gotta say, penn's style game is still on point even at 65 
but honestly, i'm more interested in seeing how their relationship plays out than watching them stroll around santa monica. btw, i wonder if leonardo dicaprio was being extra for lighting up next to sean penn 
he was spotted holding hands with this girl Valeria Nicov and they looked super cute together but like... isn't she way younger than him? 
30 is still pretty young, you know? I feel like we've seen him go through so many relationships over the years. He's had some big name marriages like Madonna and Robin Wright too... it's just crazy to keep up with him 
I mean, who lights up during a tableside smoke break? Sounds like he's still got some old-school habits 
. She seems to be bringing out the best in Penn, and he's not looking too bad himself 
. It's cool that they're taking things slow and keeping their relationship private until now 
. Maybe this is the one that'll stick? 
Can't wait to see more of them together on red carpet or in public 
It's like they're the new old-school Hollywood glamour. I mean, who wouldn't want to date a man who's been nominated for an Oscar? But seriously, their relationship has had its ups and downs, and it's great that they're finally feeling cozy enough to hold hands in public. Although, gotta say, Penn's cigarette habit is still kinda weird, especially when you think about how passionate he is about environmental issues 
. Anyway, I'm excited to see more of them together – maybe we'll even get to see Nicov on the big screen soon? And speaking of Sean Penn, what's up with his dating history? Like, Madonna, Robin Wright... did he just burn through actresses faster than he burns through cigarettes 
.