Valeria Nicov, 30, is the latest celebrity to make headlines in Sean Penn’s romantic life. Talk about his connections and widening age gap has been rekindled by their recent appearance at a film festival.

But who is the woman who has captured Penn’s heart?

30-year-old Valeria Nicov, Sean Penn’s new girlfriend, is an actress and model from Moldova. As per her IMDb profile, she has been active in the entertainment industry since 2018, with roles in shows like Don’t Worry About the Kids and Mike.

Additionally, she appeared briefly as a bartender in Emily in Paris.

Valeria Nicov stands at 1.77 meters (5’10”).

In June, Sean Penn, 64, said to The New York Times that he wanted to date freely and avoid heartbreak. ”I’m just free,” he explained. ”If I’m going to be in a relationship, I’m still going to be free, or I’m not going to be in it, and I’m not going to be hurting.” He added, ”I don’t sense I’ll have my heart broken by romance again.”

Fast forward to today, and Sean has embarked on a new chapter with Valeria Nicov, his much younger girlfriend.

The 64-year-old actor and his Moldovian girlfriend have been together since September, when the two were spotted sharing a passionate kiss while strolling through the streets of Madrid.

While strolling together, the actor, who has battled quitting smoking for years, was spotted with a toothpick in his mouth.

In spite of declaring he had quit smoking on his 40th birthday, as reported by The Guardian, the habit seems to have had a stronger hold. Penn, reflecting on his anniversary, called the attempt a ”disaster,” admitting that, despite his efforts, the struggle to fully give it up continues. Even during tender moments with his new girlfriend on their September date, he was seen smoking again.

In October, Penn and Valeria Nicov were spotted again at Los Angeles International Airport, where they shared another kiss. Known for their cosmopolitan lifestyle, the two later flew to Paris, where they were photographed embracing on the city’s iconic streets, as captured by the Daily Mail.

Penn and Valeria Nicov share a 34-year age gap, with Valeria Nicov being younger than both of Sean Penn’s adult children. His daughter, Dylan Penn, was born in 1991, while his son, Hopper Penn, was born in 1993.

Her Facebook shows Valeria resides in Paris, the city of romance, where she combines her film career with a strong presence in the fashion world.

An impressive multilingual talent, Valeria speaks seven languages — Romanian, Russian, French, English, Ukrainian, Spanish, and Italian — adding to her versatility.

Valeria’s dedication to her craft is evident through her education at heatre and Fine Arts in Chisinau, the Academy of Music, Tas well as her courses at the prestigious Cours Florent in Paris. As a model, she has collaborated with well-known brands, such as Carolina Herrera.

Apart from her careers as an actress and model, the Moldovan beauty is also a passionate blogger. She boasts a following of 19,000 on Instagram, where she shares captivating images from her photoshoots.

Valeria Nicov leads an active lifestyle, enjoying yoga, boxing, and tango. She also has many other talents, including singing jazz music, playing the piano, and horseback riding. Her love for art and literature is evident in her Instagram posts, where she shares a glimpse of her creative side.

Though Sean Penn and Valeria Nicov seem to be enjoying their relationship, there are many who have strong opinions about their age gap. These opinions came to light when the director and actor faced online criticism after stepping out with his 30-year-younger girlfriend.

At 64, Sean Penn and 30-year-old Valeria made their elegant red carpet debut at the Marrakech International Film Festival, on November 30th. The Mystic River star looked sharp in a classic suit and tie, while Valeria Nicov stunned in a strapless black dress featuring a draped front design.

The pair turned heads on the red carpet, exuding elegance and style as they made their entrance at the film festival. But as mentioned, not everyone was equally impressed.

Critics quickly took to social media to slam the couple’s age gap. ”Disgusting,” one person wrote on X. Another commented, ”PeePaw and his granddaughter.”

One user questioned, ”If Sean Penn was a greeter at Walmart, would this young girl be with him? I think not.” Meanwhile, others labeled the romance ”unsettling” and ”creepy.”

Another user added, ”Sleeping with someone who wasn’t born yet when you were 33 is just… unsettling.”

Nevertheless, many people were divided by the couple’s appearance. One Facebook user commented, ”I hope they do very well together.” Others shared similar sentiments, expressing support despite the controversy surrounding their age difference.

”I could care less about the ages. They’re both over 18 and that’s really all that matters.” Another commented, ”Leave him alone. A 30-year-old is a grown woman. At least he’s not dating teenagers or 23 yr olds.” Meanwhile, someone else penned, “He’s taking everything on the planet to keep up with that, look at him!!!!”

Sean Penn’s relationship with Valeria Nicov marks his first since his divorce from actress Leila George. The couple had been married for two years before their split in April 2022.

Sean and Leila’s relationship began in 2016, and they tied the knot in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, keeping their wedding low-key.

Despite their brief marriage, the couple had a long history together, having first met in 2016 and quickly becoming a strong pairing. The end of their marriage followed reports of struggles within the relationship, and the divorce was finalized in 2022. Leila is an Australian-American actress best known for her roles in The Long Home and Mortal Engines.

Penn made his acting debut all the way back in 1981’s Taps. Following that his career went from strength to strength, culminating in the actor taking home two Oscars for his roles in Mystic River (2003) and Milk (2008).

Penn made up one half of a high-profile marriage with Madonna in the ’80s, though their tumultuous union eventually ended in divorce. Penn has also been married actress Robin Wright (1996-2010).