Pedro Pascal has become a household name, thanks to roles in Game of Thrones, Narcos, The Mandalorian, and The Last of Us, but things weren't always so rosy for the star of Marvel's Fantastic Four: First Steps. In fact, Pascal almost quit acting after spending years struggling to land roles.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Pedro opened up about his struggles to find success as an actor. He confesses he nearly quit acting, and used to contemplate changing professions. At his lowest, Pascal considered enrolling in nursing school or becoming a theater teacher, but his family and friends never let him quit. Pascal was aware that being 30 without a settled career likely meant the odds of success were against him, and "Past 29 without a career meant that it was over.”
As he struggled to cope with the loss of his mother to suicide and considered changing professions to pay the rent, Pascal credits his "angels" for standing by him. Pedro's older sister, Javiera Balmaceda, his friend Sarah Paulson, and his dog, Greta, are just some of them. Javiera would chip in with cash to help her brother make it through the week. She admits, “He’s wanted to be an actor since he was four years old. The one thing we’d never allow Pedro to do was give up.”
His other friends would help him buy groceries, while Paulson let Pedro borrow her sister's car. As for Greta, she was there for Pedro when he came home after a long day. For Pascal, the credit for his success belongs equally to all his friends and family. He's grateful for the strong support system that allowed him to pursue his dream. He's often seen on the red carpet with his sister, Javiera, and Paulson. He admits, “Basically, everybody took care of me, well into my 30s."
Pascal is now one of the most popular actors in the world, a fact that's backed up by leading roles in Star Wars, Marvel, and The Last of Us. Recently, he showed his versatility through performances in The Materialists and Gladiator 2, demonstrating his range as both an action hero and a romantic lead. He'll follow up his recent performances this summer when he stars in A24's Eddington and Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Next year, Pedro returns as Din Djarin again in The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is the first Star Wars film since The Rise of Skywalker. Pascal portrayed the helmeted hero for 3 seasons of The Mandalorian, and it feels right to have him lead the movie, which marks Star Wars' return to the big screen.
The Mandalorian and Grogu premieres in theaters on May 22, 2026.