Pedro Pascal’s rise to fame followed a path familiar to many—gradually, then suddenly. With his back-to-back successes in “The Mandalorian” and “The Last of Us,” he quickly became one of the biggest stars of 2023. However, his journey to prominence involved years of dedicated work in some of Hollywood’s most high-profile franchises.
Before his venture into the “Star Wars” universe, Pedro Pascal made his mark on the small screen with his memorable portrayal of Oberyn Martell in “Game of Thrones.” It was during this seven-episode stint on the HBO series set in the treacherous lands of Westeros that many viewers were first introduced to Pascal’s talent. However, he soon discovered that the show’s blockbuster status ensured that even supporting players like him became recognizable faces.
In a recent appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s Drama Actor Roundtable, Pascal reminisced about his initial surprise at the level of fame his relatively small role on “Game of Thrones” had brought him. He shared his experiences of unexpectedly encountering the consequences of allowing fans to recreate his character’s gruesome death in selfies with him. It was an unexpected aspect of fame that came with the territory of being part of such a widely watched and celebrated series.
Pascal’s journey from a memorable character in “Game of Thrones” to his current status as a major star exemplifies the unpredictable nature of fame and the impact of being associated with iconic franchises.
“I remember, earlier on, because of ‘Game of Thrones’ and the way my character died — speaking of touching — people were super into taking selfies with their thumbs in my eyes,” Pascal said. “And at first, I was so earnest and happy about the success of the character in the show, I’d let them! And then I remember getting a bit of an eye infection.”
Pedro Pascal has playfully embraced the darkly comedic aspects of his newfound celebrity status on multiple occasions. He often highlights the awkwardness he feels when children ask him to unleash his “Mandalorian” voice, and he humorously reflects on the surreal encounters he has with fans, as seen in his recent “Saturday Night Live” monologue.
While acknowledging the honor of being a part of massive franchises like “Game of Thrones” and “Star Wars,” Pascal admits that he is still adjusting to being recognized by people.
He shared an anecdote about a recent encounter where a stranger approached him on the street, expressing their child’s love for “The Mandalorian.”
The situation took an unexpected turn when Pascal found himself FaceTiming with a six-year-old who had no idea who he was since his character wears a mask throughout the entire show. It served as a humorous reminder of the intriguing dynamics of fame.
