A Peek Inside BFFs Pedro Pascal and Sarah Paulson's Decades-Long Friendship
Updated April 14 2023, 11:26 a.m. ET
Let's be real, Daddy Pedro Pascal and Mommy Sarah Paulson have us all in a chokehold. If these words mean anything to you, it's time to get off the internet (go touch some grass). If these words mean nothing to you, don't worry, we'll explain.
Known for his extraordinary work in shows like Narcos, The Mandalorian, and The Last of Us, Chilean-born actor Pedro Pascal hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time on Feb. 4, 2023.
In a hilarious Gen Z-inspired sketch called "Fancam Assembly," his longtime pal Sarah Paulson joined him, the two actors portraying out-of-touch high school teachers secretly in love.
And while Pedro and Sarah may not be romantically involved in real life, the two stars have been friends for decades. Let's explore their heartwarming friendship.
Pedro Pascal and Sarah Paulson's friendship began way back in 1993.
As mentioned in a 2014 conversation between Pedro and Sarah for Interview Magazine, the two have known each other since September 1993, which was Pedro's very first month in New York City.
Given that Sarah was the interviewer (the piece was also written by Sarah), Pedro teased her, asking "Do you have at least two questions? Have you done your research?"
The Ratched star cheekily responded, saying, "I’ve known you since I was 18, is that enough research? I think that’s enough research."
Speaking of how the two met, Pedro revealed that Sarah and her established group of friends took him under their wing in the '90s.
"I was really lucky because my first friend at NYU lived in Brooklyn, Kristen, and went to high school with you, so your guys’ posse kind of adopted me," Pedro shared.
When Sarah asked if he remembers anyone else in the posse, Pedro reminisced about their NYC adventures.
"I remember everybody! There are a couple of things that I probably shouldn’t say about all of us — we were 18-year-olds in New York City in 1993. [But] I remember all of us going to the Upper East Side. I insisted that we all go see that movie Fearless," he relayed.
In a 2023 profile of Pedro for Esquire, Sarah revealed that back in the day, she supported Pedro financially while he was struggling to make it as an actor. "There were times when I would give him my per diem from a job I was working on so that he could have money to feed himself," she said. If that's not real friendship, we don't know what is!
Pedro and Sarah lost touch for a bit when she made the move to LA — but they have since reconnected.
Because life happens and friendships naturally ebb and flow, the two lost touch for a bit when Sarah made the move to L.A. "I think we went through a period where we didn’t talk as much, but it was never because we were fighting," Sarah said. No, it was simply because she was too busy being a superstar!
And though the second phase of their friendship didn't come until years later (it's not exactly clear when this was), it proved to be a strong one.
"I came to L.A. for a bit and then went back to New York. Even after going back to New York, we somehow went into chapter two of our friendship that — we attached to each other and haven’t been able to let go," Pedro sweetly stated.
Whether they're taking each other to see bad movies (Pedro has apparently dragged Sarah to a slew of crappy horror flicks), poking fun at each other's nerdy habits (Sarah gets a kick out of Pedro's extensive knowledge of the MPAA), or reminiscing about the good old days (which involved bumping into Woody Harrelson and drinking 40s), Pedro Pascal and Sarah Paulson are two adorable peas in a pod.
Talk about friendship goals.
Sarah wrote about Pedro for 'Time's' "100 Most Influential People of 2023."
There's no doubt that Pedro's career had exploded in recent years — he's a certified superstar. Carrying two massive TV franchises (The Mandalorian and The Last of Us) has made him a household name, and because of that, Time magazine named Pedro one of the 100 most influential people of 2023.
Sarah was the one who wrote the blurb about him for the feature, and let's just say her words speak for themselves: "Pedro Pascal is the whole motherf--king deal. ... Everything you hope he is, HE IS: powerful, soulful, hilarious, goofy, capable of having the deepest conversations, willing to hold your hair back when you’re sick, and in possession of the broadest shoulders to lean on.
"He is no figment—he’s real. That’s why he has landed so surely in the cosmos, with such shattering force. It isn’t actually his Adonis form you’re responding to. It’s the beauty he carries inside. His interior light burns so bright, it’s simply taken some time for your eyes to adjust. But now that you’ve seen him, you know too. He’s the whole motherf--king deal."
