Sean Penn has spoken of his “love” for Charlize Theron – saying that he’s ready to marry again.

The couple were friends for 18 years before they fell for each other and have since sparked rumours that they could tie the knot.

Now Sean, who was previously wed to Madonna and House Of Cards actress Robin Wright, has given a candid interview about the relationship to Esquire magazine.

Charlize Theron with Sean Penn in the background
Charlize Theron with Sean Penn in the background (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

“Yes, I’m surprised to be in love,” he told the mag.

“Lot of reasons – 53 years old, plus finally beginning to figure out why you haven’t been happy in a single relationship? It could seem too late.

“But to run into somebody now who you care about is a much passionate, deeper, truer and – god! – a much happier feeling.

Esquire magazine
Sean Penn was interviewed in Esquire

“It’s a lot more romantic and a lot more fulfilling to be in a relationship and to think you’re a good person within it.”

The double Oscar winner gushed that he’d love to tie the knot again, and that this time he would consider it his “first marriage”.

“Yes, I’d get married again. You say I’ve been married twice before but I’ve been married under circumstances where I was less informed than I am today,” he said,

Sean Penn and Robin Wright
Sean Penn was previously married to Robin Wright (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

“So I wouldn’t even consider a third marriage, I’d consider it a first marriage on its own terms if I got married again.

“I mean, I like the tradition.”

The actor said he chose to live in Los Angeles to be with Charlize, who has a son Jackson, who she adopted in early 2012 when she was single.

“I’m in love with a woman and home is where the heart is, right?” he said.

Sean Penn and Madonna
Sean Penn and Madonna are on friendly terms ( J.H. Saunders /Landov
Image)

Sean told the March issue of the magazine that his previous marriages were not a complete failure, saying: “I’m very friendly with my first ex-wife (Madonna). I would say that I’m on extremely good terms with the children I share with my second ex-wife (Robin).”

He compared fame and celebrity to being “a good-looking girl in New York City or Los Angeles or Rome. Everybody thinks they got a piece of you” but he added: “I am, like you, just one of those tiny little dots in a car you see from the airplane. And I feel like that every day. And I like it.”

And he criticised the values in modern day Hollywood, saying: “Success is not based on serious s**t any more. Someone gets a job on Die Hard 32 because they got a pretty face?”

Sean Penn and Charlize Theron
Sean Penn and Charlize Theron (Jackson Lee/Starmax/EMPICS Entertainment)

Charlize has previously spoken about the relationship, saying: “It just kind of naturally happened. And before I knew it, I was in something that was making my life better – the people who really love me can see the effect it has had on me.”

But unlike Sean, she’s not sounded so effusive about tying the knot, telling Vogue magazine: “Let’s put it this way: I never had the dream of the white dress…

“It’s supposed to be this night of celebrating love, and all you see is a couple separated all night making sure everybody else is OK. It just looks like a lot of work.”

:: Read the full interview in the Esquire March 2015 issue – on sale today (January 29). Also available as a digital edition.