Pedro Pascal found safety from bullying in the arts

Pedro Pascal is one of the world’s leading actors. With credits across some of the biggest franchises in the world, it’s difficult to imagine an entertainment industry, whether we’re talking blockbusters, romantic comedies, or TV shows, that doesn’t feature him in some shape or form. 

In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Pascal discussed his career and childhood, noting how he’s been passionate about the arts his whole life. It was something that the kids in middle school didn’t understand. 

Pascal revealed that he was bullied “for being a weird, sensitive kid. For being an attention-hungry kid. For being in love with the movies and theater, and art.” He and his family had relocated from Texas to a wealthy and conservative neighborhood in Orange County, one that Pascal still doesn’t like to visit. 

He shared that the bullying was such that his mother, Veronica Pascal, pulled him out of his local school and enrolled him in a separate school for the arts. His love for stories is one that helped him overcome some challenging years, including his 20s and part of his 30s, when he was struggling to make ends meet as an actor and was unable to find success.

© Variety

Pascal has always had the support of his family

Pascal opened up about his years spent in New York, trying to book jobs unsuccessfully. “In my 30s, I was supposed to have a career,” he said. “Past 29 without a career meant that it was over, definitely.” Pascal had his breakout at 39, with “Game of Thrones,” prompting many moments where he considered pursuing other vocations. 

His family and his loved ones begged him to stick to acting, and supported him financially when he couldn’t make ends meet. 

© Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

“When Pedro would say, ‘I’m going to nursing school’ or ‘I’m going to be a theater teacher,’ it was just like ‘No, no, no, no! You’re too good!’” said Javiera Balmaceda, his sister, to the profile’s author. 

“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.”

© Gilbert Flores