Penn Badgley has written about his experience of fame to be "transparent about the process".

The 39-year-old actor has written a new essay collection, called Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss and Coming-of-Age, and Penn has explained the motivation behind the project.

During an appearance on the Totally Booked with Zibby podcast, Penn shared: "I wanted to, and intended initially at the outset of that essay, to write way more specifically about what fame is or isn't or what, at least, my experience of it is.

"It's not just a huge part of a celebrity's life. It's a huge part of everybody's life. Our culture is just inextricably, undeniably entangled and obsessed with celebrity."

Penn actually thinks the public should "hear more" from celebrities.

He explained: "I think we should hear more, also, from people who are famous because it just gives us more of the pie of experience.

"It gives us more of a share of like, 'All right, let's just examine this from all angles' … I think the weirdness of celebrity is that, at worst, it really clouds the vision of the person suffering under it."

Penn also admitted that being a celebrity is a "huge part" of his life.

The actor said: "It has impacted my life no less than any other thing. Being a father, being a man, eventually becoming a Baha'i, which is my faith, my religion, when I was in my late 20s.

"Thank God when I die, the celebrity will go. Until then, as long as my celebrity lasts, it's a huge part of my life."

Meanwhile, Penn previously revealed that he became financially independent at the age of 15.

The actor became the main breadwinner for his family while he was still a teenager - but Penn was "close to broke" before landing a role in Gossip Girl.

During an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Penn explained: "I was financially independent by 15. I wasn't always the breadwinner, but I've always needed to and wanted to provide support for my parents since then."