Hollywood stunned by Sean Penn's secret visit with “El Chapo”

Sean Penn was a hot topic at the Golden Globes, even though the actor didn't attend. His exploits in pulling off a clandestine interview with the world's most notorious drug kingpin shocked Hollywood.

Host Ricky Gervais didn't waste any time taking a poke at Penn with his first joke Sunday night. He kidded he wanted to get through his monologue and go into hiding - somewhere even Penn couldn't find him.

Penn conducted an interview with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán for Rolling Stone magazine and wrote an essay. It was published late Saturday, a day after the drug lord's recapture in Mexico.

Matt Damon, a Globe winner for actor in a comedy or musical, said backstage that Penn's adventure was nothing new.

"I know a lot of very serious actors and filmmakers who have been having meetings like this forever, and writers for that matter," he said, declining to name names. "It's part of what we do to do our job really well."

Mexican authorities said Penn's contacts with Guzmán helped them track the fugitive down - even if he slipped away from an initial raid on the hideout where the actor apparently met him in October.

In the article, Penn wrote of elaborate security precautions surrounding his visit.

Actor and fellow Santa Monica High School alum Rob Lowe joked about Penn's secret trip on the red carpet before the Globes.

"Santa Monica High alumni get things done. We get nominated for Golden Globes, we help apprehend international drug fugitives, because that's what we're taught at Santa Monica High," Lowe said.

Brazilian actor Wagner Moura wasn't so sure it was a good idea for Penn to venture to the jungles of Mexico to meet with Guzmán.

"Isn't that crazy?" asked Moura, who portrays drug lord Pablo Escobar on the television series "Narcos."

"I really admire him," he said of Penn, "but I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't like to meet a criminal."