Pedro Pascal Opens Up About Keeping His Love Life Out of Spotlight

The internet’s favorite “daddy” is setting the record straight about his approach to romance and privacy. In a candid new interview with Vanity Fair, Pedro Pascal explained why he chooses to keep his romantic relationships private, despite being one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. The 50-year-old actor, who has never publicly confirmed being in a relationship, explained his reasoning behind maintaining boundaries between his personal and professional life.

“I always feel perplexed when I’m identified in whatever form of media as a ‘highly private person,’ because that’s the opposite of me,” Pascal told the outlet. “I’m very unprivate in my private life. I just know that personal relationships are such a complex thing to navigate even without having this enormous lens on them.”

The “Last of Us” star’s comments come amid recent speculation about his dinner with Jennifer Aniston, which sparked dating rumors across social media. Pascal quickly clarified the nature of their relationship during “The Last of Us” Season 2 premiere, telling Entertainment Tonight that they are simply close pals.

“Jennifer and I are very good friends,” Pascal explained to Entertainment Tonight. “And I got to have dinner [with her] on Saturday, and it was a fun martini dinner.” He added with a laugh, “That’s her starlight. I’m just basking in it!”

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Navigating Fame and Personal Connections

Pascal has mentioned previously that being famous can make dating complicated. He’s naturally outgoing with friends and family, but has learned that romantic relationships become much harder when everyone’s watching.

Over the years, the actor has been linked to several co-stars and celebrities, including Lena Headey from “Game of Thrones” and Maria Dizzia from “Orange Is the New Black.” However, he has never confirmed these relationships. His 2014 connection with Headey was particularly scrutinized after she shared a photo of them together on Instagram. Pascal later clarified they were simply close friends.

When it comes to starting a family, Pascal shared mixed feelings about parenthood. He told Vanity Fair he’s never “longed” for children but admitted to having specific dreams about fatherhood. “I’ve had dreams of taking my kids to the movies the way my parents took me,” he revealed. “So I guess I want a shortcut to an interesting human being who is my child who will go see something that I want to see.”

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Embracing His Heartthrob Status

Pascal maintains a humble perspective about his heartthrob status. He recalled feeling far from attractive during the 2024 Critics’ Choice Awards when host Chelsea Handler joked about 2023 being “the year everyone became horny for Pedro Pascal.”

“I was in a sling, I was overweight, and when the camera cut to me, I didn’t think anything could be further from the truth,” Pascal shared with Vanity Fair, referencing his shoulder injury at the time.

The physical challenges continued to affect his confidence as he worked on his upcoming film “Materialists” while still recovering. “It was the oldest I’d ever felt in life,” he told the publication. “It was the weakest I’d ever felt. It was such a scary, fraudulent thing to feel like I could play somebody who was the catch of Manhattan.” The interviewer reassured him about his appearance in the movie. Pascal responded with relief, “You think I’m hot in it? Thank God!”

Not all of Pascal’s circle celebrates his internet fame, particularly the “daddy” nickname. His “Last of Us” co-star Bella Ramsey expressed concern about how the label might affect him. “I felt worried for him,” Ramsey told Vanity Fair. “I want to protect him from that whole joke of becoming the internet’s daddy. I was like, ‘I don’t want everyone to refer to you as that and see you as that. You’re so much more.'”