Javiera Balmaceda Pascal, Pedro Pascal’s Sister, Is Transforming the Entertainment Industry for Latinas Everywhere

Would you ever like to be in front of the cameras?

No, I’ve always been behind, and I feel very comfortable in that role. If they put me in front of one, I get very nervous. I really admire actors who have that emotional intelligence and the ability to portray other characters in a way that transcends their own emotions. I don’t know how they do it with all those people watching them; it’s impressive. Whether it’s television, film, or theater, I admire them immensely.

What would be your ideal cast for a project in Latin America?

I think it depends on each particular project. We have one coming out called Putas Redes Sociales (“Social Network Whores”), a comedy headed by Paulina Gaitan. I fought for her to star in the series, because I know her and we already worked together in El Presidente and Los Guardianes.

She is a fantastic actress, and I think she will surprise everyone in this new role in a comedy series. What I like most about my job is to show the world the talent that all Latinos have. We shouldn’t be pigeonholed into roles of “sexy bombshell,” “drug dealer,” or “immigrant in search of the American dream.” There’s so much more we have to offer!

How do you help combat the stereotype they have in the US about Latinos?

I think that by doing stories that represent everyday life in Latin America, we are showing the wealth of talent and diverse characters we have in the region. One of the series I am very proud of is La Cabeza de Joaquín Murrieta. In my opinion, it is a tribute to the splendor of 1930s and 1920s cinema in Mexico, a time when a lot of wonderful westerns were produced. With this series, we want to highlight the richness and talent both behind and in front of the camera in our region.

What has been the participation of Latinas in the entertainment industry?

We are involved in several projects led by women, and one that fills me with pride is Fin del Amor, based on the book by Tamara Tenenbaum and with Keke Hall-Warrensen as showrunner. In addition, our protagonist is Lali Esposito. I think looking for these opportunities is important, as these stories can resonate with other girls, but they also transcend genres and are for everyone.

We work day by day to offer more opportunities to female directors. In fact, Alejandra Márquez Bella directed a film for Amazon Studios in the United States starring Michael Peña, which was shot in Mexico and is called A Million Miles Away.

Recently, in Australia, we launched a series called Class 07, which is about a reunion after 20 years of graduating from high school, but with an apocalyptic twist. What’s interesting is that all the characters are women; there are no men in the series. I think it’s remarkable that a platform like Amazon Prime Video, which reaches all parts of the world, is producing content of this magnitude that highlights female voices. While it may be considered a risk, more than half of the population is female, and it’s time for stories to reflect this diversity in a natural way. I am sure many people, including myself, appreciate and applaud these efforts. Seeing our experiences represented on screen is valuable and meaningful.