Pedro Pascal may be the one making waves in Gladiator II, but it was his sister, Lux Pascal, who stole the show on the red carpet recently.
Now, the transgender actress and activist is been making a name for herself in the entertainment industry.
Why Lux Pascal left her old life behind
Lux Pascal’s story is one of dramatic change and resilience – and today she has left behind her identity as Lucas Balmaceda.
Born on June 4, 1992, in California, Lux comes from a family with deep roots in Chile’s political and aristocratic circles. Her parents, José Balmaceda Riera and Verónica Pascal Ureta, are part of the influential Balmaceda family, known for their ties to the Castilian-Basque aristocracy.
But everything changed after the 1973 Chilean coup, when Lux’s mother, Verónica, was connected to Andrés Pascal Allende — Salvador Allende’s cousin and a key figure in the revolutionary movement. As a result, the family was forced into exile and after initially seeking asylum in Denmark, Lux and her family eventually relocated to San Antonio, Texas.
They later moved to Orange County, where her older brother Pedro had grown up, as he shared in an interview with Esquire.
When Lux Pascal, was just three years old, her family returned to Chile.
Lux Pascal siblings
There, she faced the challenges of adapting to a completely different culture. This cultural shift was especially noticeable when Lux entered the prestigious Saint George’s College, a school that embodies Chile’s social elite and highlighted the stark class divides in the country.
Lux is the youngest of three siblings, with an older sister, Javiera, and two older brothers, Nicolás and Pedro. After she returned to Chile with her parents and Nicolás, Pedro would visit — and quickly realized that his baby sister, 17 years his junior, had become the true leader of the household.
“She ruled the household right away. When my older sister and I would visit, we were like intruders,” he told Esquire. “Our mother was her mother, but for us to think that we were entitled to this woman’s attention in any way was absurd.”
Lux Pascal’s acting dreams truly took off when she studied theater at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Her passion for the craft only grew, eventually leading her to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York.
What is Lux Pascal famous for?
In 2014, during her fourth year of studying theater, Lux made her stage debut in Pablo Rotemberg’s play La noche obstinada.
That same year, she also landed her first television role on Canal 13’s series Los 80, where she portrayed the character Axel Miller.
Today, Lux is making her mark as an American-Chilean actress and transgender activist. With standout roles in Chilean TV shows like Veinteañero a los 40 and Juana Brava, as well as the film The Prince, she’s carving out a space for herself in the entertainment world.
Despite being born into a privileged family and having more ”Caucasian” features by Chilean standards, Lux insists that her career was not propelled by such advantages. In fact, she notes that her identity, particularly being queer, led to experiences of discrimination, especially in the television industry, where doubts were raised about her ability to play heterosexual roles.
Came out as a gay man
In February 2021, Lux publicly came out as a transgender woman and decided to change her name to reflect her maternal surname.
According to Lux, her journey of self-discovery began when she first came out as gay man. Then, she came out as nonbinary to her family.
“Coming out of the closet as a gay man didn’t cost me anything, but deep down it wasn’t who I was. It was only a step on the staircase, but it wasn’t me,” she said. “It was an easy thing to say,” she said about her coming out, “but the truth was, ‘Oof, if you really knew what I feel…”
Becoming a woman
Over time, Lux fully embrace her identity as a woman. In a revealing interview with Ya Magazine, the actress said that she started hormone treatment in 2020, marking a significant step in her transition.
”My transition has been something that’s very natural for everyone in my family,” Lux shared and added: ”It’s almost something that they expected to happen.”
Pedro Pascal shared the magazine cover featuring his sister Lux coming out as a trans woman, showing his full support for her.
”Mi hermana, mi corazón, nuestra Lux,” Pascal wrote in Spanish, which means, ”my sister, my heart, our Lux.”
What has her brother, Pedro Pascal, said?
Lux shared that her famous brother, Pedro Pascal, has played a significant role in her journey. He has been there every step of the way for Lux, from supporting her transition to being one of the first people to congratulate her when she came out as trans.
”He’s also an artist and has served as a guide for me. He was one of the first people to gift me the tools that started shaping my identity,” Lux says.
When the 32-year-old came out to him as trans over FaceTime, she remembered him asking, ”How do you feel?” adding, ”I remember he was a little worried.” After Lux said she was happy, the actor quickly congratulated her, saying, ”Perfect, this is incredible,” according to Lux.
Beyond being a dedicated ally to his sister, Lux, Pedro Pascal is also a passionate supporter of the entire LGBTQIA community. He consistently shows his advocacy both in real life and on social media
In March 2023, after trans rights came under attack, the Mandalorian star proudly posted photos of a rainbow flag on Instagram to show solidarity. He’s done this year after year, especially during Pride Month, standing tall for the rights of the LGBTQIA community.
But it’s not just about the cause for Pedro – it’s about his sister. In a heartfelt interview, he shared how proud he is of Lux, saying, ”I wouldn’t want to speak on her behalf, but she is and has always been one of the most powerful people and personalities I’ve ever known.” His admiration for her is clear, and his protective side? Well, that’s ”lethal” when it comes to his little sister.
Lux Pascal on Instagram
Lux Pascal is active on Instagram, with hundreds of thousands of followers who keep up with her journey. She does a great job of keeping her fans updated on everything happening in her life.
However, on her Instagram, there are no photos from her life as Lucas. However, Lux has stated that she has ”no trouble looking at photos of myself before my transition.” She explained, ”It doesn’t make me anxious to see old photos of myself. The same thing happens to me with theater: I see someone who was doing what they liked.”
Lux Pascal is not only an actress but also a passionate activist. She uses her platform to raise awareness for the LGBTQIA community, particularly advocating for trans rights. Lux believes in the power of activism and speaks out against discrimination. As she put it, “We need trans activists who are good, smart, informed and who can be strong voices against transphobia, homophobia and racism.”
Lux Pascal boyfriend
Lux Pascal has been in a loving relationship with José Antonio Raffo since 2011. José Antonio Raffo was born on January 3, 1992, in Las Condes, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile. He is an actor, best known for his roles in Una mujer fantástica, Perdona Nuestros Pecados, and Pobre Gallo.
The couple have been together since their university days, and their bond has only grown stronger over the years.
”I am forever in love with my girlfriend, it’s been 10 years now. She’s my best friend, my favorite actress, she’s the best,” Raffo said on the show Podemos Hablar, where he spoke about his relationship with Pascal.
Despite the physical distance when Lux moved to New York to study acting, they’ve managed to keep their love alive.
”If it didn’t fall apart before, it’s because deep down what we have is strong, and I believe that is the most important thing. Love can overcome everything, beyond distance, time, or any adversities life throws at you,” Raffo said.
On social media, Lux affectionately calls her boyfriend Raffito, sometimes sharing pictures of him. For example, she gave a special tribute to him on his birthday in January 2023, posting two photos of them smiling together on a beach. ”Raffito, you make my heart sing,” she wrote.
According to Raffo’s own Instagram, in addition to being an actor, he is also a singer and plays guitar in the band Tempera.
Where does Lux Pascal live?
From what her social media suggests, Lux Pascal seems to split her time between New York and Chile.
Lux Pascal on the red carpet
At the premiere of Gladiator II, all eyes were on Pedro Pascal’s 17 years younger sister, Lux. The transgender actress and activist joined her older brother on the red carpet at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, offering her full support as he made his grand entrance.
The 32-year-old actress turned heads in a stunning, form-fitting long-sleeve dress with a daring cut and an emerald buckle accent.
With the spotlight on her, she radiated confidence and elegance, proving once again that she’s a rising star in her own right. Meanwhile, Pedro, who stars as Roman General Marcus Acacius in the film, looked effortlessly dashing in a sleek black ensemble, solidifying his status as a Hollywood heartthrob.
It seems that all the praise has reached Lux as well. Here’s what she shared on her Instagram in the days following the premiere:
“I don’t like to talk on the internet or show vulnerability on this app anymore. But I do have to say that behind all the glamour and all the love I felt these past few days, there is so much hard work from people who put a lot of trust in me. And it makes me incredibly emotional 🤍
And yes, I am the proudest sister in the entire world 🤍🤍”
