There’s never really been any doubt in our minds that Pedro Pascal is as dreamy in real life as he is on screen. From his ability to rock a skirt on a red carpet to his embrace of the being dubbed a ‘daddy’ by the internet, our obsession with the star is utterly warranted—we even had his Gladiator II co-star, Connie Nielsen confirm this fact.
In the upcoming sequel for the film, Connie has reprised her role of Lucilla whose new onscreen husband, Marcus Acacius, is played by Pedro.
“Pedro is just one of the most charismatic and kind and joyful people,” she tells marie claire Australia.
Sharing some of the most emotional scenes of the film together, the 59-year-old teased that there was far more to their story that sadly didn’t make the cut.
“There is a scene that is not in the film, but that I hope that Ridley will put into the extended version when he makes one,” she reveals, “where you really see both the cultural and the emotional connection between these two people.”
Their onscreen connection translated in real life to a beautiful friendship with Connie recalling her favourite day with Gladiator II cast came in the form of a birthday surprise, organised by Pedro.
“It was my birthday while we were shooting and Pedro insisted on like sitting up this beautiful lunch for me,” she tells us. “So, we got a boat and we went out sailing the whole day, we went swimming in these caves off of Malta and it was just magical. All of us together, [it] was really wonderful.”
Despite the overwhelming reception and anticipation for the film, Connie admits she was initially “kind of sceptical” at the idea of returning to her character of Lucilla after two decades.
But, with little convincing she agreed, revealing she relished the chance to bring her life experience from the time passed to the beloved role.
“It was just so beautiful to be able to take a woman who had been young back in the first film and bring to her all of the lessons that I have learned over the last 24 years,” she says.
The biggest lesson Connie says she’s learned as a woman?
“I’d love for young women to really embrace their own power in a positive, empathetic way. And, to really trust that power, to take that power kind of seriously and allow that to give them weight.
“I feel like young girls are still being taught to be too acquiescent. I really love it when I see young women sort of stepping up and saying, this is our power.”
Gladiator II is in cinemas November 14. Tickets on sale now.
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
