Dress and Shoes Balmain
Lux Pascal and Naomi Watts swap stories about famous siblings, family secrets, and refusing to stick to the script.
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THURSDAY 12:30 PM SEPT. 4, 2025 PUERTO RICO
LUX PASCAL: Hi!
NAOMI WATTS: How are you?
PASCAL: I’m doing good. I’m on vacation.
WATTS: Where?
PASCAL: Puerto Rico.
WATTS: Gorgeous. What’s that painting in the back?
PASCAL: I’m going to be honest, this is a very sketchy Airbnb, so there’s not much history I can tell you.
WATTS: [Laughs] Well, it looks inviting either way.
PASCAL: Maybe it’s me, I don’t know.
WATTS: It’s all you, babe.
PASCAL: No, it’s all you, Naomi.
WATTS: We haven’t even met, but I feel very connected to you.
PASCAL: Same. I’m a huge admirer. And I believe that you’ve left your soul on the screen, so I kind of know you.
WATTS: Thank you. I mean, we are connected for life no matter what. Your brother [Pedro Pascal] was so instrumental in that. When I met him just a few years ago, he spoke so beautifully about his family, and you in particular. And then he went on and said that you had enjoyed my work, which I was of course very interested in. [Laughs]
PASCAL: As was I.
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WATTS: And then he asked me a couple of months later to send you a video message to wish you happy birthday. Now we’re on to text and Instagram DMs. So, we are in each other’s lives and it feels meaningful for many reasons, which we’ll get into later. But I’m wondering, this family bond you have—you’re one of four siblings, is that right?
PASCAL: Yes, I’m the youngest. I think that shows in my personality.
WATTS: Being the youngest?
PASCAL: Absolutely. By the way, I can replay the video you sent me for my birthday by heart. It was during my third year at Juilliard and I was having such a difficult time. I had moved from Chile and then I received a video from one of my favorite actresses, and I was like, “Okay, this is going to work out.”
WATTS: I don’t remember what I said, but it was probably very quick and possibly awkward.
PASCAL: [Laughs] It was beautiful.
WATTS: Does that put the fight in you? They often say the youngest kid—
PASCAL: Is the biggest fighter?
WATTS: Yeah.
PASCAL: I believe that. I definitely had to advocate for my space within my family. I was the tiniest thing and I was like, “I have to figure out how to feel comfortable around these titans, my siblings.”
WATTS: Right. And their identities seem so formed, so how do you create your own space and power within that structure?
PASCAL: Exactly. And they’re so generous with me that I have to be like, “But I’m not a baby.”
WATTS: Well, the way Pedro spoke about you was that you were definitely a fighter, but with such warmth. That level of protection, whether you need it or not, is there. I see it in the body language between the two of you. It’s a beautiful thing to witness. And it’s your siblings that become the witnesses of your life, right? Whatever you went through as a growing person coming into this world, you share that with them forever.
PASCAL: That’s really beautiful. In my family, there’s a lot of history, so it gives our relationships a lot of dimension. Nothing is staged. What’s funny is that I get a little self-conscious about my relationship with my brother, but when I look into his eyes, I see the person I’ve always known. We’re in different stages of life, but this is the person that I grew up loving and admiring. I can’t tell you how proud of him I am. He deserves it all. I’m going to get emotional.
WATTS: Of course.
PASCAL: He really does. He says I’m a hard worker. He’s the hardest worker, and I protect him, too.
WATTS: Of course. It goes both ways.
PASCAL: I want people to know that. Yes, I’m the youngest, but I have his back.
WATTS: Tell me if this is too private, but you lost your mom at an early age. I lost my father at a very early age, and it sent me on a certain path. I think it formed me in many ways.
PASCAL: Yeah. It’s a presence that overlooks all of my artistic experience in a way. But also, not to subconsciously put a positive spin on it, but it really is fuel to my fire because I’m like, “My mother didn’t get to experience my life as an adult, so I have to make her proud.”
WATTS: Now you’re going to make me cry.
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PASCAL: I wasn’t expecting us to start crying less than 10 minutes in.
WATTS: Don’t worry. We have more time. I told you we’re connected for powerful reasons. But yeah, I don’t really know who my father was, but I feel like he’s in me and—
PASCAL: Do you feel that he’s looking after you in a way?
WATTS: For sure. And that’s the little girl version of grief. I’ve always spoken to him and felt connected, and he appears in my work.
PASCAL: I will dig a little deeper into this subject if you don’t mind, but I feel my mother was the first person to know who I was. When I was 3 years old, I remember distinctly telling her that I was a girl. It was almost like a full-circle moment when she passed away, because it was something that I had kept inside. And when I was independent enough to be an adult, I was like, “I really have to do this now, of course for me, but it’s also a part of my bond with my mother.” She knew who I was, and I didn’t want to keep that a secret anymore.
WATTS: That’s beautiful. Secrets, they’re too exhausting to hold.
PASCAL: They are.
WATTS: And your story is so powerful.
PASCAL: Is there anything you held within your relationship with your father that you felt was kept as a secret between you?
WATTS: I’m sad to admit that I have very, very few memories of my father because, not only did he die when I was very young, but he wasn’t around a lot. My parents had separated when I was 4 or 5. I just have photographs that can trigger little abstract memories. So everything is a little bit made-up, and I feel a lot of sadness around it. But like you say, positive stuff as well. I’m always convinced this dream of mine was realized because of him.
PASCAL: You’re so right. We share such a strong connection.
WATTS: And it may seem corny to the reader, but—
PASCAL: It is what it is.
WATTS: It’s a real thing! It makes me want to talk about our other connection, which is, as you said, owning the fact that you are a girl. I’m a mother of a trans kid and it isn’t always easy. As a mom, you’re always concerned with your kid’s health and safety.
PASCAL: Of course.
WATTS: But I’m so proud of my little girl. She’s extraordinary.
PASCAL: And stunning.
WATTS: She’s a fighter. She’s owning who she is. I wanted to ask you about your role as an advocate. Do you feel that’s a comfortable place for you to be, or does it feel like something that you’re being
forced into?
PASCAL: I get what you’re saying. I don’t necessarily feel comfortable with the word advocate, because I almost feel like it threatens my life as an artist in a way. It makes me self conscious about something that I’m truly not self conscious about. I’ve always been the person that I am, and like any adult, I just happen to go through physical changes.
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WATTS: It’s not all of who you are, it’s a piece of you.
PASCAL: Exactly. I think that’s even more powerful, because I just want to be the actress that I am, and I fought for my position.I mean, going to a conservatory like Juilliard is not an easy thing, and I did it consciously as a way of saying, “This is how I’m going to develop as an actress and be taken seriously for my craft.” I’m glad it gives inspiration and everything, but I’m not self-conscious about that. I think it’s even more punk rock to be like, “I’m just myself.”
WATTS: Right. “This is who I am. I don’t have to declare this, that, or the other.”
PASCAL: And blending in a way, like, “Hey, I’m just another actress like my colleague Naomi.”
WATTS: Exactly. That said, you are doing a lot for the community, and I do want to put my daughter in touch with you eventually.
PASCAL: That’s an open door. We’ll text about that.
WATTS: You mentioned Juilliard, and I find that so impressive. That was my dream. In fact, Juilliard was too far-fetched of a dream. I tried to get into the local drama school in Sydney, and I got rejected. I’m very impressed and not worthy. I’m bowing down to you.
PASCAL: Oh, come on. [Laughs]
WATTS: I want to hear about the experience because I know how much hard work it is. I know so many talented kids who try to get into that school.
PASCAL: Some stories that I hear of people who have gotten rejected still baffle me. I’m sure you’ve heard it countless times, but maybe you’re too good for drama school, Naomi. That’s a real thing. When I was at Juilliard, I would help audition other kids. I remember seeing some kids and thinking, “Oh, it’s a one-way ticket for them.” And then they’d get rejected. Not to downplay myself, but I think I got in because of a timing thing. There’s so many talented people that get rejected by drama schools, and also a lot of people don’t survive drama schools because they’re tough.
WATTS: Do you think it changed you as an actor?
PASCAL: Yeah. I’m really grateful for Juilliard in that sense because I did meet some wonderful masters of acting. It shifted gears in the sense that it made me relax a bit more. And instead of having a plan while I’m acting, that plan is to be in the present.
WATTS: That’s a great thing. Also, I did a deep dive on your Instagram, and it seems like you have a strong passion for fashion. Very bold and chic.
PASCAL: Thank you.
WATTS: When did you fall in love with fashion?
PASCAL: I’m sure me and your daughter can connect on that. I’ve always had an independent sense of fashion, and not like, “Oh, I want to curate my own style.” It’s just that I don’t think of it as fashion.
WATTS: Just as self-expression?
PASCAL: Yeah. I’ve always been curious. I remember when all my friends were young, they’d go shopping with their parents, and I was like, “I’m going to go by myself. I’m not going to let people choose what I wear.” And it just developed into something of my own. I’m just thrilled that now designers want me to wear their pieces, and it’s slowly come into my life that way. Also, I was raised with America’s Next Top Model, and I think I learned how to pose watching that, which I know so many people will relate to. Do you know the show?
WATTS: I don’t, really. I feel like I’ve maybe seen ads or something, but I haven’t actually ever watched
it.
PASCAL: It’s such a staple.
WATTS: I’m not much of a reality TV person. But Anthony Bourdain was my favorite.
PASCAL: That’s fun.
WATTS: I’ve got a few random questions.
PASCAL: Please.
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WATTS: When was the last time you cried? Although, we’ve both cried in this interview.
PASCAL: Right, well—
WATTS: That answers that.
PASCAL: I did cry at a concert recently.
WATTS: Which concert?
PASCAL: The reason why I’m in Puerto Rico is because I went to see Bad Bunny.
WATTS: Oh!
PASCAL: I highly recommend. There’s this moment where he’s in La Casita wearing this suit and singing this song that’s so romantic. I started crying in the darkness.
WATTS: I love that. When do you feel most comfortable in your skin?
PASCAL: There’s something about dancing in the darkness, not being witnessed. Or, it’s going to sound super romantic, but I have memories of me being lights-off in the moonlight and just dancing with my spirit.
WATTS: I love that. I’m the same. Dancing is so freeing.
WATTS: I guess this connects to that last question, but when do you feel truly seen in the way you want
to be?
PASCAL: I felt truly seen by my mother, and it’s taken a while to be seen that same way again. But all the answers I’ve given you are of an advocate. Now I’m like, “No, actress.” And that makes me feel seen as well because finally, the roles that I’m either auditioning for or being offered relate to who I am. My inner child is screaming, like, “Finally.” I feel seen for the very first time since I was a child telling my mother who I was.
WATTS: That’s a great note to end on. Let’s do more when the cameras and recorders aren’t rolling.
PASCAL: I can’t wait for the roles to be reversed. That’s all I’m going to say.
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Hair: Akihisa Yamaguchi using Oribe at Forward Artists.
Makeup: Maud Laceppe at Home Agency.
Nails: Nori at See Management.
Photography Assistant: Nuvany David.
Fashion Assistant: Andrea Menassé.
Production Assistant: Ha Chu.
Locations: Joyface and HiLot.
Special Thanks: Jennifer Shorr and Deb Tam at Radish.
