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Stars weigh in on Sean Penn’s ‘El Chapo’ interview

Click to play video: 'Hollywood actors react to Penn’s ‘El Chapo’ interview, asked if they would do the same'
Hollywood actors react to Penn’s ‘El Chapo’ interview, asked if they would do the same
WATCH ABOVE: Matt Damon, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Tambor, Gael García Bernal, directors Tom McCarthy and Adam McKay and “Narcos” star Wagner Moura all spoke to The Associated Press – Jan 11, 2016

Sean Penn‘s Rolling Stone interview with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman had several people fascinated on the Golden Globes red carpet.

“I just know that he had done previously an interview with him and who wouldn’t?” said Patricia Arquette. “It’s incredibly fascinating as an artist and as a writer and the many things that Sean is and I don’t know. You know truth is stranger than fiction. I don’t know what to say about it other than anyone who is an artist interested in understanding human nature and behavior and anything would want to talk to any person like that.”

READ MORE: Sean Penn interview led Mexican officials to drug lord ‘El Chapo’

Arquette said that, if given the opportunity, she’d would jump at the chance to interview the Mexican drug lord.

“Spotlight” director Tom McCarthy agreed:

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“Who doesn’t want to sit down with an interesting person, be them good or bad, if only for a story’s sake? I don’t see particular harm in that,” said McCarthy.

But “Narcos” star Wagner Moura wasn’t so sure it was a good idea for Penn to venture to the jungles of Mexico to meet with Guzman before the drug lord was captured this week.

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Sean Penn is one of the actors, I mean he is God for me and I really admire him. But I wouldn’t do it. I don’t know. I don’t feel like – it’s just a very personal – I wouldn’t like to meet a criminal to have a (relationship) and I’m sure that ‘El Chapo’ was much more than a criminal. He should be a nice human being to people that know him or to his family, like Pablo (Escobar), but it’s a world that I’m not interested in being that much – go that deep. You know, personally.”

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READ MORE: Mexican drug lord’s final hiding place was in plain sight

“The Big Short” director and co-writer Adam McKay joked that the situation wasn’t all that unique.

“You know, a very similar thing happened to me years ago where I was wanted. I’m older now, but I had done some bad things and I really wanted to meet Alyssa Milano and because of that I ended up doing six years in a federal penitentiary. So it’s not as uncommon as you think. It really isn’t.”

“Transparent” star Jeffrey Tambor also poked fun at the interview:

“Oh I see. You know I talk to ‘El Chapo,’ but no one says that. I talk to him all the time. I talk to him. We dial each other. I call him – no, I could go on, but then I’m going to get in trouble,” said Tambor.

Mexican authorities say Penn‘s contacts with Guzman helped them track the fugitive down – even if he slipped away from an initial raid on the hideout where the Hollywood actor apparently met him.

Penn‘s article on Guzman was published late Saturday by Rolling Stone magazine, a day after the drug lord’s recapture.

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