Sean Penn has said his article on Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman failed in its mission.

Speaking to the 60 Minutes TV show, the actor said his intention in tracking down the escaped drug kingpin and writing about him for Rolling Stone magazine was to shed new light on the US government's policy in the war on drugs.

But public attention has instead focused on how Penn found and met Guzman in October when Mexican officials could not track him down. Guzman was recaptured last week after six months on the run.

Penn said the Mexican government was "clearly very humiliated".

He said he had hoped his article would begin a conversation about drug policy.

"Let me be clear. My article has failed," Penn said.