Lux Balmaceda Pascal (born 4 June 1992)[1] is an American-Chilean actress and transgender activist.[2][3] She is known for her roles in the Chilean television series Veinteañero a los 40 and Juana Brava and the Chilean drama film The Prince.

Lux Pascal
Pascal in 2024
Born
Lucas Balmaceda Pascal

(1992-06-04) 4 June 1992 (age 32)
EducationPontifical Catholic University of Chile (BA)
Juilliard School (MFA)
OccupationActress
Years active2011–present
PartnerJosé Antonio Raffo (2011–present)
RelativesPedro Pascal (brother)

Early and personal life

Lux was born in California as Lucas Balmaceda[2] to Chilean parents José Balmaceda Riera and Verónica Pascal Ureta. She is a member of the Balmaceda family, a politically influential family that were part of the Castilian-Basque aristocracy. Her parents were exiled from Chile after the 1973 coup due to her mother's connection to Andrés Pascal Allende, a leader of the Chilean Revolutionary Left Movement, who was her cousin.[4] Lux is the youngest of four siblings, including actor Pedro Pascal.[2] When she was three years old, her family returned to Chile[5] where she attended Saint George's College.

In 2010, Lux began studying theater at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.[5] In May 2023, she graduated from Juilliard School with a MFA in acting.[6][7][8]

In February 2021, Lux publicly announced that she is a transgender woman and changed her name to reflect her maternal surname.[3] She has been in a relationship with actor José Antonio Raffo since 2011.[9]

Career

In 2014, during her fourth year of studying theater, Lux made her stage debut in Pablo Rotemberg's play La noche obstinada.[10] That same year, she landed her first television role on Canal 13's series Los 80, where she played "Axel Miller".[11] In 2015, she co-starred in the TVN soap opera Juana Brava, and the following year, she acted in the soap opera Veinteañero a los 40 on Canal 13. Lux made her film debut in 2016 in Prueba de actitud, directed by Fabrizio Copano and Augusto Matte.

In 2017, Lux appeared in an international series for the first time, playing the role of Elijah in the third season of the Netflix series Narcos, alongside her brother Pedro.[12]

In 2019, Lux participated in three Chilean film productions: No quiero ser tu hermano, directed by Sebastián Badilla, Ella es Cristina, directed by Gonzalo Maza, and The Prince, directed by Sebastián Muñoz.

Theater

  • 2014: La noche obstinada
  • 2017: Tebas Land
  • 2019: Kassandra

Filmography

Film

Television

References

  1. ^ Salas, Maria José (4 November 2015). "La película de los hermanos". La Tercera (in Spanish). Chile. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Lucas Balmaceda, el hermano del chileno de Game of Thrones que llegó a remecer Los 80". t13.cl (in Spanish). 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Pedro Pascal Sweetly Supports His Sister Lux After She Comes Out as a Trans Woman: 'Mi Corazón'". People. 9 February 2021. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  4. ^ Romney, Lee (30 November 1995). "Fertility Doctor Who Fled U.S. Is Welcomed in Chile : Medicine: Patients flock to Jose Balmaceda, formerly of UC Irvine. But his arrival may add to scrutiny of his field". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b Hirane, Josefina. "La película de los hermanos". paula.cl (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 11 August 2018.
  6. ^ Villa, Bernardita (9 February 2021). "Ya no es Lucas Balmaceda: estrella de "Los 80" revela que es trans y ahora se llama Lux Pascal". BioBioChile (in Spanish). Chile. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Lux Pascal at The Juilliard School". www.juilliard.edu. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  8. ^ Bowman, Sabienna (20 May 2023). "Pedro Pascal and His Brother, Nicolás Balmaceda, Attend Sister Lux's Graduation From Juilliard". POPSUGAR Celebrity. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  9. ^ Meganoticias (12 March 2021). "José Antonio Raffo y su pololeo con la actriz trans Lux Pascal: "Soy un eterno enamorado"". meganoticias.cl (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  10. ^ Arzola, Catalina Cabello (25 July 2014). "Lucas Balmaceda, la promesa actoral: "Me ponen incómodo los conservadores"". LaSegunda.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Lucas Balmaceda, el hermano del chileno de Game of Thrones que llegó a remecer Los 80". Tele 13 (in Spanish). 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Actor de "Los 80" se suma a la tercera temporada de "Narcos"". www.ar13.cl (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2021.