Pedro Pascal used his spotlight at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival to champion the safety and dignity of immigrants. The Chilean-American actor, known for his roles in The Last of Us and The Mandalorian, delivered a heartfelt plea during a press conference for his new film Eddington on May 17, 2025. His words, rooted in his experience as a refugee, resonated deeply with audiences and sparked conversations about compassion and justice.
Pascal, whose family fled Chile’s brutal dictatorship in the 1970s, shared his story with raw emotion.
“I want people to be safe and to be protected, and I want very much to live on the right side of history,”
He said. He went on to detail his connection:
“I’m an immigrant, my parents are refugees from Chile, I myself was a refugee, we fled a dictatorship, and I was privileged enough to grow up in the US, and after asylum in Denmark, and if it weren’t for that, I don’t know what would have happened to us.”
Closing his statement with unwavering conviction, he declared,
“And so I stand by those protections, always.”
The moment came during a discussion about Eddington, a politically charged neo-Western directed by Ari Aster. The film, which premiered on May 16, 2025, to a five-minute standing ovation, tackles themes of division and power in America. Pascal’s comments were prompted by questions about the cast’s concerns over U.S. political tensions, particularly around immigration policies. He admitted the topic felt daunting, saying,
“Obviously, it’s very scary for an actor participating in a movie to sort of speak to issues like this. It’s far too intimidating the question for me to really address, I’m not informed enough.”
Yet, his personal story gave him the courage to speak out.
Pascal didn’t stop at defending immigrants. He urged others to resist fear, a tactic he believes fuels division.
“Fear is the way that they win,”
He said.
“So keep telling the stories, keep expressing yourself and keep fighting to be who you are. Fuck the people that try to make you scared, you know? And fight back.”
He emphasized storytelling as a powerful tool for change, calling it
“the perfect way to do so.”
Aside from his statements, Pascal’s actions at Cannes demonstrated his devotion to human rights. On May 13th, 2025, he co-signed with more than 350 artists, such as Juliette Binoche and Guillermo del Toro, denouncing the film industry’s silence on the conflict in Gaza. This act, coupled with his immigrant activism, presents the image of an actor emboldened to use his position for positive change.
The Cannes crowd, including co-stars Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone, listened intently as Pascal spoke. His words were a reminder of the real-world stakes behind Eddington’s narrative. Fans on social media erupted in support, with many praising his authenticity and bravery. One user wrote,
“Pedro Pascal speaking from the heart at Cannes about being a refugee and standing for immigrant rights is why he’s a true star.”
Pascal’s moment at Cannes wasn’t just a speech but a call to action.
