Pedro Pascal became a household name the same way people fall in love or fail: gradually, then suddenly. While the back-to-back successes of ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Last of Us’ have turned him into one of the biggest stars of 2023, he has spent much of the last decade gradually working his way through some of Hollywood’s highest profile franchises. Hollywood.
Before it joined ‘Star Wars’, there was ‘Game of Thrones’. Many fans were first exposed to Pascal during his seven-episode run as Oberyn Martell on the HBO series set in Westeros. But as the actor quickly learned, the show’s blockbuster status ensured that even his supporting actors became recognizable faces.
During a recent appearance on The Hollywood Reporter Drama Actor Roundtable, Pascal recalled being surprised by how much fame his relatively small role on the show brought him, and the unexpected consequences of allowing fans to recreate his character’s gruesome death in selfies with him.
“I remember, before, because of ‘Game of Thrones’ and the way my character died — speaking of touching — people were great at taking selfies with their thumbs in my eyes,” Pascal said. “And in the beginning, I was so serious and happy about the character’s success on the show, I would have let him! And then I remember having a little eye infection.
This isn’t the first time Pascal has teased the dark and comedic side of his newfound celebrity status. He’s often pointed out how awkward it is when kids ask him to bring out his “Mandalorian” voice, and he’s joked more generally about the surreal experience of meeting fans in his recent “Saturday Night Live” monologue.
“It’s an honor to be a part of these huge franchises like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Star Wars,’ but I’m still getting used to people recognizing me,” she said. “The other day, a guy stopped me on the street and said ‘My son loves ‘The Mandalorian.” And the next thing I know I’m FaceTiming this six-year-old boy who has no idea who i am because my character wears a mask for the entire show.
