Vanessa Kirby sparked inevitable confusion on Thursday by affectionately stroking Pedro Pascal‘s face during a new interview on behalf of their latest film.
The co-stars have been on a press run in recent months on behalf of new film Fantastic Four: First Steps, in which they play married couple Reed Richards and Sue Storm.
And spending time together has seemingly brought th pair closer, with Vanessa, 38, and Pedro, 50, spotted showing each other support in public on a number of occasions.
The latest example of such affection occurred during an interview with Buzzfeed this week, where the actress, clad in a blue dress, moved her arm around Pedro and began stroking his beard.
It’s far from the first time the film stars have displayed their strong friendship, with the duo again appearing almost peculiarly close as they answered questions for Heart this week.
And just a couple of weeks ago during Fantastic Four’s premiere in Los Angeles, Pedro was pictured stroking his co-star’s baby bump as they posed up a storm on the red carpet.
Fans have been left confused after Vanessa Kirby began stroking Pedro Pascal’s face in their latest show of affection for each other
Just a couple of weeks ago during Fantastic Four’s premiere in Los Angeles, Pedro was pictured stroking his co-star’s baby bump as they posed up a storm on the red carpet
The very public displays of affection have however sparked discourse on social media, with some eagle-eyed fans branding their relationship slightly ‘weird’.
But other supporters were quick to point out that Vanessa is merely trying to ease Pedro’s anxiety.
One wrote: ‘Guys calm down. Pedro suffers from some type of anxiety disorder. He needs to touch or be touched by people to make him calm down and feel comfortable.’
It’s something Vanessa and Pedro have been open about, with the actress speaking about helping her pal through anxious moments in an interview last year.
Talking after they were spotted holding hands on-stage at San Diego Comic-Con last year, Vanessa told Vanity Fair: ‘What happened is we were both incredibly nervous going out in front of thousands of people who love this comic.
‘He wanted me to know that we were in this together, and I found it a lovely gesture and was very glad to squeeze his hand back.’
The Gladiator 2 star has indeed been candid about his struggles with anxiety throughout his career.
During a chat with Men’s Health last month, Pedro revealed exactly how he copes with anxiety in difficult moments.
Some fans dubbed their friendship slightly ‘weird’ after the new interview sparked a discourse on X
They too appeared strikingly affectionate towards each other during an interview with Heart this week
Last year at San Diego’s Comic-Con, the adored stars were spotted holding hands on stage (pictured at the event in July 2024)
‘I noticed, especially during the period of summer 2020, and kind of isolation and how long my FaceTimes were and my phone conversations, that I had started to make an effort to engage more, having previously lost that options in many ways,’ he said.
‘I remember back in high school I was always such a good talker with friends… and then I don’t know how many days had gone by where we stopped doing that.
‘It’s something I’ve held onto very much. I was always one to reach out when I’m facing something that is challenging or making me anxious.’
Vanessa and Pedro’s latest endeavour together, Fantastic Four: First Steps, released on Thursday.
It’s the 37th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the second reboot of the Fantastic Four film series.
Fans were quick to point out that Vanessa is merely calming her co-star and good pal’s troubles with anxiety
Directed by Matt Shakman, the movie sees the Fantastic Four protect their 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic world from the planet-devouring cosmic being Galactus.
Leading lady Vanessa, who stars alongside Ozark actress Julia Garner, has looked every inch the glowing mum-to-be at the film’s many premieres during recent weeks.
In particular. at the German premiere last month she looked effortlessly stylish while displaying her baby bump in a sleek black dress.
She teamed her fashionable, high-necked gown with towering black heels and dazzling silver drop earrings.
Vanessa first revealed she was pregnant with her child last month as she showed off her bump at The Fantastic Four photocall in Mexico.
Last December it was reported she was engaged to her boyfriend Paul Rabil after two years together.
The beauty, who starred as Princess Margaret in Netflix’s The Crown, was allegedly set to head down the aisle with lacrosse player love, 39, after he popped the question, according to Page Six.
At the movie’s German premiere last month, Vanessa looked every inch the stylish mother-to-be as she displayed her baby bump in a sleek black dress
![Last December it was reported she was engaged to her boyfriend Paul Rabil after two years together [pictured together]](https://publiko.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1753370960_411_Vanessa-Kirby-leaves-Fantastic-Four-fans-bemused-as-she-affectionately.jpeg)
Last December it was reported she was engaged to her boyfriend Paul Rabil after two years together [pictured together]
MailOnline contacted representatives of Paul and Vanessa for comment.
Vanessa and Paul first sparked dating rumours walking hand-in-hand through New York City in October 2022.
However, they didn’t make their romance Instagram official until November 2023.
At the time, American Paul – who is the co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League – shared a series of photographs of the couple including one of them embracing on a beach.
‘From the very minute we first met in Des Moines, around the world and back, life is far better, more purposeful and more beautiful with you,’ he wrote about the film star.
The couple have been spotted on several occasions together since 2022, but had kept quiet about their blossoming romance.
