Lux Pascal, a Juilliard-trained actress and the younger sister of Hollywood star Pedro Pascal, is making headlines with her first big role in Miss Carbón, a Netflix drama inspired by a powerful true story. The film premiered in theaters across Spain this June and will arrive on Netflix in the U.S. later this year, marking a big moment for Pascal’s career and a milestone for trans representation in mainstream movies.
A Story Rooted in Resilience
Back in 2008, based on true events, Miss Carbón tells the story of Carlita Rodríguez, a trans woman who breaks barriers by becoming the first female coal miner in her small hometown of Río Turbio, Argentina. Carlita’s story in the film shows her handling a new job, going through her gender transition, and facing prejudice in a male-heavy work environment.
Pascal, who’s 33, was unsure at first about taking a role that focused on a transition story. “I was a bit afraid because I really wanted to expand my possibilities as an actress,” she told The Hollywood Reporter, reflecting on her desire to avoid being typecast. After meeting the real Carlita Rodríguez and shifting the story to highlight women’s challenges at work, Pascal felt like she had to say yes. “When I met her, I was captivated by the sense of disappointment she carried regarding how the world has treated her. I didn’t want to shy away from revealing how that sadness can be impossible to conceal,” Pascal said.
Director Agustina Macri said Pascal was her one and only pick for the role, calling her beautiful, talented, and great on screen. Macri explained, “Though the story is based on real-life events, Lux and I understood from the start that we could develop our own version of Carlita, built around her personal feelings and emotional richness, and she paid close attention to every detail, often offering subtle script suggestions to give the character more realism and grounding.”
A Family of Survivors and Supporters
Getting this role wasn’t easy for Lux Pascal, but her resilience helped her push through. She was born in California to Chilean parents who escaped the Pinochet regime and grew up in Orange County as the youngest of four kids. It was a heartbreaking start to life when Lux lost her mom to suicide at just seven years old. “We all have trauma,” she shared, “and I understand my own trauma, and I survived it.”
Pedro Pascal, her older brother, has stood by her side, supporting her through it all. Pedro, who’s now a big name in Hollywood, has openly supported Lux and stood up for the LGBTQ community. “There’s something that very few people possess — a blend of talent and skill that harmonizes with a camera that adores your face. She has that. I am amazed when I see her perform in close-ups. I’m not surprised, just amazed,” Pedro told The Hollywood Reporter.
Lux said Pedro played a big role in her journey, adding, “He’s also an artist and has been like a guide for me.” She added that he was among the first to give her the tools that started shaping who she has become today.
You can clearly see how close they are, both when the cameras are rolling and when they’re not, and Lux has even said she wants to team up with Pedro again. “It would be wonderful to revisit the conversations we had when I was a child and he was a young adult, both dreaming about films. I would love that.” Pedro agrees, noting, “Watching Miss Carbón feels like a rehearsal for us.”
Rising Star with Big Dreams
Miss Carbón is about to premiere in the U.S., and Lux Pascal is quickly gaining attention. She’s already started filming her first lead role in an English romantic comedy called Love & Chaos, and she’ll also star in the upcoming thriller Summer War, which is based on Roberto Bolaño’s book The Third Reich. Pascal has big dreams. She wants to join the X-Men as Jean Grey and also act in fantasy films like The Lord of the Rings.
“I feel a deep connection to [Jean Grey], both physically and mentally, especially in how she transforms into Phoenix as a result of being tainted by the world,” she explained. People are starting to notice Pascal, and his efforts to speak out are really making an impact.
She’s been seen at major events with Pedro, and her visibility has shot up, especially with Pedro openly standing by her, speaking out against anti-trans views, and rocking a “Protect the Dolls” shirt to support her.
Director Agustina Macri summed up the impact of Miss Carbón: “The courage shown by Carlita to fulfill her dream of being a miner and also a woman is something that pierced my soul from the day I read the script for the first time. With her strength and spirit, she is a prime example of what dreaming can achieve and that there is still a lot of ground to overcome as women and trans women. But she, in that sense, brings hope.”
