Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous revolves around a rock band—but it’s Penny Lane who embodies the true spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. The lively character played by Kate Hudson is not a groupie, or even just a fan. She’s much closer to a muse, an important, but often overlooked figure in the creation of art. Here’s our Take on how Penny Lane fulfills the crucial role of the muse, and what her idea of the “band-aid” tells us about the magic of bringing the music to life.