Many moments at the 2026 Oscars may have been predictable, but Pedro Pascal unveiling a look he once vowed he would never embrace was not one of them.
Since his breakout role as Oberyn Martell on “Game of Thrones,” Pascal has been known for his rugged facial hair and has rarely appeared without it.
However, the actor recently shocked many fans with a surprising change.
Pedro Pascal Debuts Shocking Look At The 98th Academy Awards
The 50-year-old actor stepped onto the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the award night, looking as polished as ever, but noticeably missing his signature beard.
Instead, Pascal traded it for a clean-shaven appearance, instantly switching up the look fans have grown accustomed to. For his outfit, he donned a white dress shirt with a floral pattern and paired it with high-waisted black trousers.
While the actor still looked stylish, the change was striking. It was even more surprising, since Pascal had insisted he wasn’t a fan of being beardless during an interview last year following his role in “Wonder Woman 1984.”
“I grow such sh-t facial hair, but if I were to shave it all off, I really look very [awful],” Pascal said at that time, during an interview with LADBible. “Strongly disagree with a clean-shaven me.”
He added that seeing himself without facial hair in the Marvel movie made him hesitant to repeat the experience.
“I was so appalled by the way I look. I loved the movie, but I was so appalled by the way that I looked that I never have gone back unless it were completely necessary,” he said.
Fans React To Pedro Pascal’s New Look
Of course, Pascal’s appearance caused a stir online as several fans wasted no time in airing how they felt about it. One user wrote on X, “NO, his mustache!! (He’s still beautiful tho).”
Another sleuth questioned, “What the f-ck in Ozempic has happened to him? he was actually perfect before.”
A third person expressed they couldn’t stand the new look, writing, “Just looking at him makes me sick.” Others poked fun at the change.
One fan joked that the actor “can’t see without his moustache,” while another wondered if Pascal “was in the room with us?” This other user suggested that Leonardo DiCaprio and Pascal may have “swapped facial hairs.” One other fan compared Pascal to an Angel who “lost his wings.”
More fans opined that his look is pointing at something concerning. “Pedro Pascal arrived at the Oscars with a look like he’s trying to tell us something,” one commenter wrote. Another individual remarked, ‘Who forced him to shave? We all know it wasn’t his idea.”
Pedro Pascal Seen As Strong Candidate For Sexiest Man Alive Awards
As fans’ strong reactions to Pascal’s new look continue to pour in, the moment seems to challenge the heartthrob’s on-screen image. Fans may recall that last year, he was the leading contender for the Sexiest Man Alive title from People Magazine.
As The Blast reported, Pascal led the betting race with +163 odds, which translates to about a 38% chance of winning the title against other competitors, including Jeremy Allen White, Jonathan Bailey, Jacob Elordi, and Harry Styles.
Part of Pascal’s strong standing in the race came from the wide affection he has earned from audiences, thanks to his charm, grounded personality, and humility.
Pedro Pascal Is ‘ Much More’ Than the Internet Daddy Tag, According To His Co-star
Although Pascal has become an online favorite and earned the nickname “daddy,” the label hasn’t always sat well with his co-star Bella Ramsey, who believes the actor deserves to be recognized for far more than his looks.
According to The Blast, Ramsey, who starred in “The Last Of Us” alongside Pascal, said she initially disliked seeing him called the nickname because she felt it reduced him to only a sex symbol rather than his talent and personality.
“I don’t want everyone to refer to you as that and see you as that. You’re so much more,” Ramsey said.
The ‘Gladiator II’ Actor Joined ICE Protests
Aside from stealing hearts, Pascal is also known for speaking out against the ongoing immigration crackdown by ICE.
Per The Blast, earlier this year, the “Narcos” star reposted a bold activist graphic calling for a “Nationwide Shutdown” on January 30, 2026.
The post urged people to halt work, school, and shopping in protest if justice is not delivered in the killing of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
Pascal also made a post calling for action from the legislative and warning that if nothing is done, it will become “normal.”
