Pedro Pascal explains the personal reason behind his signature red carpet pose

Pedro Pascal like all of us has a coping mechanism in stressful situations. He recently shared his secret of managing anxiety on camera with his "Last of Us" co-star Bella Ramsey. The actor was on the red carpet during the "For Your Consideration" event in Los Angeles on Friday when Ramsey pointed out a particular pose that Pascal was often making in front of the cameras. In the short clip shared by Deadline on Twitter, Pascal is seen standing with his left hand on his torso, with Ramsey drawing attention to his pose by patting his hand before adopting a similar stance herself.

Following this, Pascal elaborated on the reason behind his hand placement. "You know why?" he began, before taking a deep breath. "It's because my anxiety is right here," he explained, pointing to his chest. In response, Ramsey nodded understandingly before giving him a comforting hug. According to The Huffington Post, the actor has been regularly striking this particular pose on the red carpet for the last 20 years, including at the 2023 Met Gala. He also adopts this pose when posing with close friends, such as Sarah Paulson, as he did in 2005 at the opening of the play "Absurd Person Singular" in New York.

Pascal's way of dealing with anxiety is said to be a good move, according to Keith Humphreys, a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University. He told HuffPost in 2017: “Focus on your breathing, put your feet flat on the floor. Smile even if you don’t feel like smiling. Tense your muscles then let them go, then tense them again and repeat. Relax your body, and a lot of people will find your emotions will follow.” Experts claim that accepting anxiety is also a healthy move which Pascal seems to be doing. “People put themselves down for being anxious. Accept yourself with anxiety and notice that you’re not alone,” said Ricks Warren, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan.

Pascal's vulnerability to his mental health and anxiety resonated with many on Twitter. People appreciated him for being so open about something that is still considered taboo among men. Twitter user @IntentionalTru1 wrote, "Pedro always centers himself in his signature pose & usually takes a breath. He protects his heart while showing vulnerability. Most celebs say they never know what to do with their hands when posing." @ylime_ott_ commented, "Just when I think I can’t love him more." @lgbtspascals said, "I love how Pedro Pascal breaks down the barrier for men who go through things that are so invalidated by a certain group of society. He’s so open about everything he supports and believes in. He’s so open about anxiety and I love that about him!"