Meet Pedro Pascal’s Sister Who Stole the Spotlight at Cannes
Lux Pascal, actress and trans activist, has take Cannes by storm
BarcelonaPedro Pascal may be one of the men of the moment, but his sister, Lux Pascal, is quickly rising through the ranks of international stardom. That newfound status was on full display just days ago at the Cannes Film Festival, where the siblings made a striking appearance. Lux — a transgender actress and activist — accompanied her brother to the premiere of his latest film, Eddington, and became one of the most photographed guests of the evening. For the special occasion, she wore an elegant golden satin gown by Dior.
At Cannes — as on many other occasions — the Pascal siblings showcased their deep bond. Pedro is one of Lux’s biggest supporters and never misses a chance to say so publicly. “Lux is, and always has been, one of the most powerful people and personalities I know. My protective side is lethal, but I need her more than she needs me,” the actor said in an interview with Esquire magazine.
What movies has Lux Pascal made?
Lux, a graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School, publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2021 at the age of 28, having initially identified as non-binary. Her announcement was met with enthusiastic support from her older brother, who shared a photo of Lux alongside the caption: “My sister, my heart, our Lux.” In an interview, the actress spoke about the support she received from her family. “My transition has been a very natural process for every member of my family. In fact, it’s something they almost expected,” she said.
Though the Pascal family has stood firmly by Lux, Pedro has been an especially strong source of support. A self-described progressive liberal, the actor is a committed advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has never shied away from speaking out. He’s been particularly critical of anti-trans rhetoric, even confronting author J.K. Rowling online, calling her a “hateful loser” after she celebrated a UK Supreme Court ruling that defined legal womanhood based on biological sex.
Lux’s acting career is now entering a new phase. She recently starred in her first feature film, the Chilean production Miss Carbón, where she portrays Carla Antonella Rodríguez — the first female miner in Argentina’s Patagonia. Due to longstanding superstitions that women in mines would bring collapse, mining had long been reserved for men. As a trans woman, Rodríguez was able to challenge that tradition. Prior to her leading role, Lux appeared in several television projects, including the telenovela Veinteañero a los 40 and the acclaimed Netflix series Narcos, where she shared the screen with her brother.
Off-screen, Lux shares her life with actor and musician José Antonio Raffo de la Jara, a member of the Chilean band Témpera. As her star continues to rise, Lux Pascal is not only breaking new ground in the film industry but also helping reshape the narrative around gender, identity, and representation — with strength, grace, and undeniable star power.
The Pascal siblings come from a family where politics and social commitment have long played a central role. Their parents — child psychiatrist Verónica Pascal Ureta and fertility specialist Dr. José Balmaceda Riera — fled Chile during Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship after being targeted as enemies of the regime. (Pedro and Lux’s mother was related to the family of former president Salvador Allende.) At the time of their departure, Pedro was just nine months old. After receiving political asylum in Denmark, the family eventually settled in the United States, where Pedro was raised. In 1995, their parents returned to Chile, where they raised the younger siblings, Nicolás and Lux.
During his time in Cannes, Pascal took the opportunity to reflect on his family’s history and once again reaffirm his political commitment — particularly significant at a time of social and political unrest in the United States. “I want people to be safe and protected. I want to live on the right side of history. I’m an immigrant. My parents are refugees from Chile. They fled the dictatorship, and I had the privilege of growing up in the United States after receiving asylum in Denmark. I will always stand up for those protections,” he said during the press conference for Eddington.