Before Pedro Pascal became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, he was making waves in a very different arena—competitive swimming. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, Pascal was a dedicated swimmer, competing at the state level during his teenage years. His specialty was the backstroke, and he spent hours in the pool perfecting his technique, with dreams of a future in the sport. But while the pool satisfied his physical drive, another passion was quietly growing in the background—his love for acting. At 17, Pascal made the bold decision to leave swimming behind and pursue his true passion for acting. He traded early mornings at the pool for late nights at the theater, enrolling in drama classes and eventually moving to New York City to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. The switch wasn’t easy, but the discipline he developed from years of swim training helped him endure the tough journey of auditions, rejections, and setbacks that came with the acting world. Despite le...