The first movie character Pedro Pascal fell in love with: “All the way to now”
Many of us had romantic awakenings while staring at the silver screen, and certain movie characters sparked intense crushes and obsessions as children.
We might not have understood exactly what it was we liked about them, but the feeling is almost instantaneous, becoming mesmerised by a single scene, action or movement.
It could be Milo from the Tweenies, the cartoon fox from Robin Hood (who had most people in a chokehold), but there are many characters who somehow worm their way into our brains and form a lasting memory as our childhood celebrity crush. For others, this crush is slightly more predictable, with the likes of Keira Knightley in Pirates of the Caribbean and Orlando Bloom in The Lord of the Rings being staples within the romantic awakening of an entire generation.
But despite the fact that many people think of Pedro Pascal as a modern-day heartthrob, the actor has described the characters he first fell in love with, offering another insight into his early cinematic journey and undying love for the medium.
There are countless action heroes who have become icons of cinema, appealing to all audiences through their ability to defy death and look quite good doing it. It could be James Bond, with his effortless sense of style as he jumps from trains and hurls to his death in designer suits, all while managing to maintain an ounce of a romantic life. Or it could be Keanu Reeves in his suave leather jacket and dark glasses, capturing audiences through his portrayal of a softer masculinity and natural ability to perform dangerous stunts.
However, there is perhaps one who is largely heralded as the ultimate action hero after playing characters like Han Solo and Indiana Jones, with Harrison Ford being the ultimate heartthrob through charming and cheeky characters.
The image of Ford sliding through crumbling caves or swinging a lightsaber has now been cemented in Hollywood history, with his work within the New Hollywood movement signalling a strong shift in the industry as the blockbuster was created and commercial cinema began gaining traction. At the time, these films were grand on a scale that hadn’t been seen before, with immersive story worlds and hand-crafted sets that plunged you into a universe never seen before. As a result, Ford gained a huge fan base and became the ultimate movie star of his generation, despite not being a fan of the spotlight.
When discussing the early films that inspired him, Pascal described his childhood crush on Harrison Ford and his love for the infamous action series, saying, “Indiana Jones, all the way up to The Last Crusade. All the way to now. It’s sort of like a double Harrison Ford, isn’t it? Han Solo.”
For many people, seeing Harrison Ford on screen was a formative memory, with his easy-going character becoming a symbol of traditional masculinity and the magic of old Hollywood cinema before it was corrupted by dodgy special effects and green screens. Very few filmmakers have come close to replicating the magic of his titular character, something that he will forever be known for and provoke fond memories for many.
