How do you become a movie star? It should be simple: look good on camera. Being able to act is a plus. The reality, especially in the age of the internet, is a little harder. Celebrities have never been less mysterious and the ones that retain a Golden Age allure appear even cooler.
No-one represents that better than Pedro Pascal, the Chilean-American actor, who has spent the last decade setting the small screen alight and is set to go stratospheric this summer. But just how did he do it? Here’s our breakdown.
He picks his projects carefully
Pascal burst onto the mainstream screens with HBO’s megahit Game of Thrones, in which he played a plucky prince who (spoiler alert) meets a gruesome end. HBO came calling again with The Last of Us, an adaptation of a hugely popular video game of the same name, in which Pascal played a plucky father figure who (spoiler alert) meets a gruesome end.
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This summer, the actor will be impossible to ignore. There’s Materialists, Celine Song’s follow-up to Oscar-nominated Past Lives, in which Pascal is caught in a love triangle with Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans. Perhaps Mr Captain America (and the former Human Torch) had tips on becoming a superhero because Pascal can also be seen as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Somehow, Pascal also found time to film the new Ari Aster film, pandemic drama Eddington, in which he plays a town mayor opposite Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone and Austin Butler.
So he’s starring as a romantic lead, a superhero and in a cult director’s new film in one season. This man knows his demographics.
He knows how to go viral
Cannes? More like Pedro Pascannes, am I right? Pascal, who was stomping the Croisette to represent the new Ari Aster film Eddington and generally look good, went viral a few times at the French festival. Two big reasons for his virality? His arms, which had their own movie star reveal at the Eddington premiere: Pascal wore a black tank top that showed off his biceps with a side helping of torso.
Our favourite recent moment with great replay value?
When Pascal was at the London premiere of John Wick spin-off Ballerina and was overheard saying, “Oh hell no, I am a 50-year-old bougie bitch.” New favourite excuse just dropped.
He knows how to look good
Pascal knows how to wear clothes, whether it’s on the red carpet or simply arriving at the airport. In fact, when he touched down for Cannes, his casually chic outfit of blue jeans, a Harrington jacket and a Bottega bag caused excited headlines. But he’s not short of ambition: take the fresh-off-the-runway Saint Laurent look at the premiere of The Last of Us season 2, a surprisingly effective combination of tartan and leather boots. Or it can be as simple as wearing Connor Ives’ statement “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt, as he did to the premiere of Thunderbolts*.
It helps, of course, that his on-screen characters look good too. In The Last of Us, Pascal channelled action hero appeal via plaid and a nice collection of watches. And in Materialists, the way he wears a tuxedo could put him in the running for the next Bond.
He just seems very… nice?
Look, we hate to sound like a poster you’d see at a dentist’s office, but sometimes it’s cool to be nice. And Pascal seems like a stand-up kinda guy. He shouts his siblings out on Instagram; he kills a movie promotional cycle; he seems like a very fun hang.
It’s almost like when you find fame later in life, there’s a good chance you’re better adjusted. There’s a lesson to be learnt in that, but it’s hard to think Hollywood will listen. For now: let’s just be thankful for Pedro Pascal’s arms.
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