thumb|170px|Penn portraying Harvey Milk during filming of Milk in March 2008 In November 2008, Penn earned positive reviews for his portrayal of real-life politician and gay rights activist and icon Harvey Milk in the Gus Van Sant directed biographical drama film Milk (2008). Kirk Honeycutt for The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Penn is one of those actors in complete control of his entire instrument. He uses voice, body movements, line readings and something indefinable within his own psyche to transmigrate into another person’s body and mind". For his performance he was nominated for Best Actor by the British Academy Film Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, and the Independent Spirit Awards. Penn won his second Academy Award for Best Actor and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.
thumb|170px|penn portraying harvey milk during filming of milk in march 2008 in november 2008 penn earned positive reviews for his portrayal of real-life politician and gay rights activist and icon harvey milk in the gus van sant directed biographical drama film milk (2008) kirk honeycutt for the hollywood reporter wrote "penn is one of those actors in complete control of his entire instrument he uses voice body movements line readings and something indefinable within his own psyche to transmigrate into another person’s body and mind" for his performance he was nominated for best actor by the british academy film awards the golden globe awards and the independent spirit awards penn won his second academy award for best actor and the screen actors guild award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role